District reports lower chronic absenteeism, preschool expansion and early math gains in annual teaching and learning review

At the Sept. 23 meeting, Iowa City Community School District staff delivered the district’s annual teaching and learning report covering the 2024–25 school year and early items for 2025–26. Superintendent Matt Degner and the teaching and learning team highlighted declines in chronic absenteeism, the districtwide expansion of preschool and early signs of positive movement after a new K–8 math adoption.

“The center of everything we do is our 14,550 students,” assistant presenters said as they summarized last year’s initiatives, including curriculum and assessment work, preschool expansion and increased coaching for teachers.

Nut graf: The district reported a significant reduction in chronic absenteeism and a three‑year low in suspensions. Officials said they increased preschool access, adopted a new K–8 math curriculum with early gains in year one, and expanded teacher coaching: 73% of teachers met with an instructional coach during the year.

Key details from the presentation: - Attendance: Staff reported a reduction in chronic absenteeism compared with prior years and called the drop a notable achievement after a multi‑year focus on attendance supports. - Preschool: The district said it now has a dedicated preschool classroom in each of the 20 elementary schools; staff reported about 620 children enrolled in district preschool classrooms and about 650 students served overall when partners are included. The district also said it now offers 25 full‑day preschool programs and has added about 10 dually certified preschool teachers to meet demand. - Curriculum and instruction: The district piloted proficiency skills in K–5 and adopted a unified K–8 math program. Presenters said early data show a small increase in math scores during the first year of implementation; staff noted research generally anticipates a short dip when districts adopt new curricula, so early gains were presented as encouraging. - Teacher development: The Office of Professional Development reported that 73% of teachers met with an instructional coach in 2024–25, with an average of six coaching meetings per teacher that participated. District staff also described a centralized professional‑development calendar and a November 4 PD day that will be teacher‑led. - Student supports and health services: District health staff reported 15,766 student health visits and said Medicaid reimbursement claims produced about $3,400,000 in reimbursements. The district said seven schools have achieved a Heart Safe School designation. - Special education: District leaders described investments in special education staffing levels (about 150 special‑education teachers, roughly 513 paraeducators and 45 behavior interventionists) and said they are increasing coaching and administrator capacity for IEP implementation.

Board reaction: Directors praised the attendance gains and asked for deeper breakdowns of behavior and special‑education metrics. Director Finch requested more detail about the “critical incident stress management” team, which district staff said has core members with backgrounds in school counseling and social work and will be expanded with a small stipend for members. Directors also asked for districtwide data from the Say Something reporting system and for more details on where teachers were receiving coaching.

What’s next: The district said it will publish the full 63‑page report as an attachment to the meeting record and will return with follow‑up data, including more detailed profiles on behavior, special education and post‑secondary readiness measures that feed the Iowa School Performance Profiles.