The district’s assistant superintendent and school principals presented beginning‑of‑year diagnostic results and recent state assessment outcomes at the Oct. 14 Bristol Warren Regional School Committee meeting, and outlined next steps to expand coaching, tutoring and curriculum alignment.

Assistant Superintendent (title given in the presentation) summarized the district’s assessment system and results: local interim diagnostics (iReady), RICAS (ELA and math), PSAT/SAT at secondary grades, NGSA science and alternate assessments. The assistant superintendent said district‑wide K–8 ELA and math patterns this year track closely with last year’s beginning‑of‑year snapshots and that the goal is to exceed prior year growth by year‑end. She said ELA achieved a districtwide increase last year and that state growth was smaller; the district is aiming to outpace the state in 2025–26.

School‑level highlights given by principals: Rockwell, Colt Andrews and Hugh Cole were cited as schools that ended the prior year above statewide averages in both achievement and growth on academic measures; principals described targeted coaching, data‑driven small groups and strengthened common planning time as drivers of improvement. Principal reports described school practices including expanded MTSS (multi‑tiered systems of support), daily acceleration/enrichment blocks, high‑dosage tutoring, instructional coaching cycles, and efforts to increase academic discourse and teacher‑led walkthroughs.

Grants and staffing: the assistant superintendent said the district received a Rhode Island Reads state grant that funded an additional reading/writing coach to support elementary teachers (state grant). Colt Andrews’s principals described a pilot of an AI‑supported reading tutor and screener intended for K–5 personalized practice, and they described adjustments to MTSS meetings and use of small‑group acceleration blocks. Principals repeatedly referenced coaching as central to sustaining classroom gains.

Fifth‑grade transition: district leaders confirmed that fifth grade will move to Kickemuit Middle School next year and described a transition team that has met to plan schedules, classroom distribution and facilities. Principals said the team will hold community presentations in winter and continue work on scheduling, electives, recess and parent concerns; administrators said they will bring more detailed transition proposals and community outreach to the committee in November.

Why it matters: The presentation connected assessment results to district strategy — emphasizing coaching, targeted interventions and curriculum alignment — and announced an operational change (moving fifth grade to the middle school) that will affect schedules, facilities and family communication.

What the committee asked for: Board members asked for more grade‑level breakdowns, clarity on how coaching cycles are assigned and measured, how volunteer tutors are used during acceleration blocks and whether Chromebook use in elementary grades will be re‑examined. Administrators said they are developing trackers to link coaching participation to teacher and student outcomes and will present more detailed plans and timelines in upcoming meetings.

Direct quote: “What we’re doing is yielding good results … now our next step is really what are we doing to push achievement to continue on an upwards trajectory,” the assistant superintendent said when summarizing district strategy.