Alexandria board approves 2025–26 site improvement goals after presentation on assessments and benchmarks

The Alexandria Public School District Board voted to approve site improvement goals for the 2025–26 school year following a detailed presentation on the district's assessment methods and building-level targets.

The goals cover early education through high school and set modest fall-to-spring increases and student growth-percentile targets, using district screening and benchmark tools. Presenters described the district's use of universal screeners (FastBridge/FAST for K–3, STAR for grades 4–9, and CAPTI for freshmen), how those screeners feed MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports) decision-making, and how teachers and instructional coaches use PLCs (professional learning communities) to plan interventions and enrichment.

District staff said the goals emphasize: incremental increases in the percentage of students meeting benchmark composite scores in FAST and STAR; growth targets measured by student growth percentiles (SGP); and building-specific social‑emotional and engagement targets for middle school. The high school goals include college- and career-readiness measures tied to ACT, Pre-ACT, and ACCUPLACER benchmarks.

Instructional coaches Jill Fuglsad and Amy Borgen explained the screening and follow-up process. They described one-to-one FAST reading and math assessments for K–1 and group assessments in later grades, the use of composite scores to prioritize instruction, and the district's practice of progress monitoring after short intervention cycles. "Universal screening means all students are screened three times a year," an instructional coach said, summarizing the cadence used to identify students for tiered supports.

Board members asked how goals account for students at both ends of the achievement curve. Presenters said PLCs explicitly ask what to do if students already know the material and what to do if they do not; staff also pointed to classroom differentiation and small-group instruction as primary tools for enrichment and remediation. The presentation noted recent norming adjustments in the STAR assessment and cautioned that some changes reflect national trends following the COVID period.

Board members approved the site improvement goals by voice vote after a motion; the minutes record the motion passed with the board answering "Aye" and "Motion carries." No roll-call tally was recorded in the transcript.

District staff listed concrete targets in their presentation, including multiple 1–4 percentage-point fall-to-spring increases for FAST/STAR composite benchmarks at individual elementary schools and SGP targets for middle and high school cohorts. Presenters also said MCAs (Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments) remain a state accountability measure but that locally administered screeners are the primary tools used to set and monitor these site goals.

The board's approval sends the site improvement goals forward for implementation by building leadership teams, instructional coaches, and classroom teachers. Staff said they will return progress data in scheduled administrative reports and at future board meetings.

(Ending) The board approved the goals during its regular meeting; staff will continue to use the district's screening schedule and PLC structures to monitor progress and bring updates to the board in the months ahead.