Big Spring SD flags fractions as key gap; reports strong algebra growth

Mrs. Datada reported that local I‑Ready math results showed major year‑to‑year gains in tier‑1 placement at elementary grades and that targeted interventions are underway. "Algebra, I mentioned that 31.9 as current seniors... Since that score, a big change that we made starting last year is the sequence of courses and opportunity for students as they enter the high school as freshmen," she said, connecting curriculum changes to cohort growth.

She identified fractions instruction as a primary driver of a lower fifth‑grade proficiency score and said fourth‑ and fifth‑grade teachers attended training on fraction instruction using concrete‑representational‑abstract approaches; early signals on I‑Ready show increased fifth‑grade growth. For high school algebra, Datada cited a 100% growth figure for a cohort after course‑sequence changes and additional flex and targeted remediation at the high school.

Board members asked for more data about students who take algebra in eighth grade and how those scores are banked with cohorts; Datada explained the state banks Keystone scores until students complete their junior year, which can delay visible effects of recent curriculum changes.