School District outlines strategic reading goals for grades 1 through 5

The Cypress-Fairbanks Independent School District (CFISD) held a Board Work Session on April 10, 2025, focusing on the progress of strategic plan goals 5 and 6 related to student reading performance. The meeting began with a presentation of data concerning students in grades 1 through 5, specifically targeting those who did not meet established reading benchmarks.

The first agenda item addressed Goal 5, which aims for 90 percent of students in grades 1, 2, and 3 to achieve a 50% Amira Reading Mastery (ARM) score by 2029. The data presented indicated varying levels of reading proficiency among students who did not meet the end-of-year RIT score. For instance, 5% of these students scored at 1 or below on the ARM scale, while 24% reached a score of 2, indicating they were reading at or above grade level.

Following this, the discussion shifted to Goal 6, which focuses on fourth and fifth graders who scored below the "approaches" level on the STAR assessment. Similar to the previous goal, the objective is for 90% of these students to meet the 50% ARM score by 2029. The data revealed that growth in reading proficiency is slower for older students compared to those in primary grades. This is attributed to the transition from learning to read to reading to learn, which presents additional challenges for students as they engage with more complex texts.

The presentation concluded with a commitment from the district to provide targeted support and high-quality instruction to help all students improve their reading skills. Board members were invited to ask questions, indicating an ongoing dialogue about strategies to enhance student performance in reading.

Overall, the meeting underscored the district's focus on addressing reading proficiency challenges and ensuring that all students receive the necessary resources for academic growth.