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District outlines early-learning goals; kindergarten scores rising but second grade lags
Summary
District curriculum staff presented the annual early learning plan, reporting kindergarten reading growth that exceeded the local target, strong first-grade gains, and continued focus on second- and third-grade proficiency. Staff described curriculum, screeners and interventions in use and staffing that supports early literacy.
District curriculum staff on Tuesday reviewed the Alpine School District early learning plan, reporting that kindergarten and first-grade literacy results improved last year while second grade continues to present challenges.
Carrie Molner, speaking for the curriculum team, said the district’s kindergarten growth goal for the year was 65 percent typical-or-better growth on Acadience; kindergarten exceeded that target and ended the year at about 71 percent. First-grade proficiency increased by about 7 percentage points, exceeding the district target of 3 percent. Molner said second grade “is tricky” and did not meet its proficiency goal; staff plan targeted work and additional focus there.
Molner described the district’s early-learning screeners and curriculum: Acadience is used as a universal literacy screener; Wonders 2023 is the adopted K–5 core literacy curriculum; the district uses the 95% Group diagnostic and intervention products for tiered supports. Molner said the district currently has seven district TSAs (literacy specialists), 26 elementary reading interventionists, and a POC coach in each building; she credited a coordinated professional-development effort tied to the adoption of the new curriculum.
Math goals were presented by Royce Campbell, who said the state-required growth goal was 60 percent typical-or-better growth in grades 1–3 and that the district met that target overall. Kindergarten math was measured in Acadience for the first time last year; staff plan to focus on number identification fluency (noting children often struggle with numbers 11–20) and other early-number-sense routines. Campbell said the district uses I-Ready classroom mathematics (2024) with updated scope and sequence and uses Acadience Math as a screener.
Curriculum staff said the state no longer requires districts to submit literacy goals to the state but that Alpine will continue its local early-learning targets and will file the required early learning plan documentation. Staff recommended continued investment in professional learning and in targeted interventions to sustain the trajectory of improvement.
No formal board vote was required for the presentation; staff will continue to refine plans and report results as the district prepares for the upcoming reconfiguration.
