In a recent government meeting, education officials reported significant progress in student proficiency levels, particularly among language learners. The annual target for 2024 aimed for 28% of students to increase one or more proficiency levels, but the district exceeded expectations with a final achievement of 33%. Superintendent Mann credited the efforts of Dr. Pabo and Sarah Beth George, along with their teams, for their diligent work in ensuring program compliance and effective design to meet the needs of language learners.

Looking ahead, the district has set an ambitious target for the current academic year, aiming to double the percentage of students increasing proficiency levels on the DNA English Language Arts Benchmark Assessment from 10% in May 2024 to 20% by January 2025. Preliminary data from August indicates areas of concern, particularly at Monte Vista School and Creighton Academy, where 14% and 13% of students, respectively, are classified as partially proficient.

The analysis of benchmark data from previous years shows a slight increase in the percentage of emerging multilingual students achieving proficiency, rising from 6% in the 2022-2023 school year to 7% in the 2023-2024 year. However, to meet the new target of 20% by January 2025, officials acknowledge the need for a significant jump of approximately 12 to 13%.

The meeting underscored the importance of ongoing monitoring and support for students as the district strives to enhance educational outcomes for all learners.