Kiddom and EL Education Submit Comprehensive Evidence-Based Curriculum Program for California’s 2026 ELA/ELD Adoption

Partnership brings together research-aligned literacy, integrated multilingual supports, and a purpose-built instructional technology

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Kiddom, the developer of Learning Intelligence Technology (LIT), in partnership with EL Education, a nationally recognized leader in curriculum and professional learning, today announced the submission of EL Education California: Powered by Kiddom, a comprehensive TK–8 English Language Arts and English Language Development (ELA/ELD) program, for California’s 2026 Instructional Materials Adoption.

At a moment when California is advancing literacy grounded in the science of reading, this submission delivers a fully integrated solution: a rigorous, knowledge-building curriculum paired with embedded multilingual supports and technology designed to ensure that strong instructional design translates into strong classroom practice.

“Literacy in California can’t be designed for a ‘typical’ student and adapted later,” said Abbas Manjee, Co-Founder and Chief Academic Officer at Kiddom. “EL Education’s research-backed, data-informed multilingual supports are built into Kiddom’s coherent instructional system from the start. California teachers don’t have to choose between high-tech tools and high-quality instruction. We are bringing EL Education’s proven curriculum to life in a way that honors teacher expertise and fosters deep student character.”

"EL Education's curriculum was designed by teachers, for teachers, based on what the science says about how students learn best: through rich, knowledge-building content, systematic, evidence-based phonics instruction, and deeply embedded support for multilingual learners,” said Scott Hartl, CEO of EL Education. “Our curriculum has delivered strong literacy gains for students across the country, and we are proud to partner with Kiddom to make this specially-designed version available for California students."

A Comprehensive Approach to the Science of Reading

EL Education’s curriculum is grounded in decades of research on how students learn to read and write. The program reflects a comprehensive view of the science of reading: integrating foundational skills, knowledge-building through complex texts, writing, and language development into a coherent instructional arc from transitional kindergarten through grade 8.

Rather than treating literacy as a set of discrete components, the program is designed to build deep content knowledge, accelerate vocabulary development, and engage students in meaningful, text-rich learning experiences that compound over time.

Built for Multilingual Learners from the Start

Aligned to California’s ELA/ELD Framework and English Learner Roadmap, the program embeds language development directly into core instruction. Dedicated ELD components, Unlock ELD (TK–5) and Ignite ELD (6–8), are tightly integrated with grade-level content, ensuring that multilingual learners remain fully engaged with rigorous academic material while developing language proficiency.

This approach moves beyond remediation or add-on supports, instead designing instruction so that language and literacy development happen simultaneously across every lesson, every module, and every grade.

Technology That Delivers on Instructional Coherence

Kiddom is built to support the implementation of high-quality instructional materials at scale. Learning Intelligence Technology (LIT) connects curriculum, instruction, assessment, and intervention, giving educators the tools and visibility to deliver on the program’s research-based design.

With Kiddom, educators can:

• Access built-in scaffolds and supports for diverse learners, including multilingual students
• Use Kiddom Assistant to prepare for a lesson and customize materials for individual students
• Use Spotlight Mode to project student work live and drive whole-class discussion in the moment
• Monitor student progress in real time across lessons, units, and modules

Kiddom is the infrastructure that makes implementation possible, ensuring the integrity of the instructional model is preserved in every classroom.

Designed for California’s Classrooms

The California 2026 ELA/ELD Adoption prioritizes materials that reflect the latest literacy research while aligning to the state’s instructional vision. EL Education California: Powered by Kiddom is designed to meet the moment, combining:

• A comprehensive science of reading approach
• Integrated support for multilingual learners
• Knowledge-building through rich, complex texts
• Meaningful, project-based learning experiences
• An advanced system built for high-quality implementation

Kiddom is also the only Illustrative Mathematics® (IM) provider participating in the adoption, making this the first opportunity for California districts to adopt a literacy program that is fully integrated with their existing problem-based math program within a single instructional system.

Final adoption decisions from the California State Board of Education are expected in November 2026.

About EL Education

EL Education partners with K–12 educators to transform schools and classrooms into centers of deeper learning. Its curriculum and professional development services are used by thousands of schools nationwide to promote academic achievement, character, and high-quality student work.

About Kiddom

Kiddom is the coherent instructional system for K-12 and the creator of Learning Intelligence Technology (LIT). LIT is a new category that connects high-quality instructional materials, assessment, data, and intervention into a single teacher-first experience, giving districts the infrastructure to deliver core instruction with fidelity. Teachers plan, instruct, and act on student data in one place, and students get the right instruction at the right time.