Speedway reports stable iRead outcomes; second-grade pass rate rises to 60%

District leaders told the School Town of Speedway board on May 13 that iRead results this year show steady third-grade outcomes and improved second-grade performance after the district opted to have second graders test last year and the state required testing this year.

Administration reported that the third-grade cohort’s overall pass rate is about 88–89%, roughly in line with recent years. The presentation noted that some third graders retook the assessment during the current administration and that retests raised pass counts (administration cited a 75% passing rate among a subgroup that retested during the meeting’s discussion). For second graders, administration reported a 60% pass rate this year, up from 52% in the prior year when second graders were tested selectively.

Staff analyzed the subgroup of third graders who had not yet passed and reported the following: of 14 remaining third-graders who had not passed at the time of the report, 13 were English learners; four of the 14 were both English learners and identified for special education; 11 of the 14 students were new to Speedway and two had moved in only weeks before testing. Administration emphasized that these mobility and language factors explain many individual cases and said the district expects additional retest opportunities to further increase pass rates before the school year ends.

Board members asked how the results should be interpreted in public comparisons, and administration recommended describing cohorts (second-grade cohort, third-grade cohort) to avoid confusion because second-grade testing was optional in many districts last year but required this year. Administration also discussed the state’s “good cause” exemption, which allows promotion despite a failing iRead score in certain circumstances, but noted that an exemption does not remove the student’s need to pass the assessment eventually.

Quotes from the meeting (exact) - "Thirteen of those 14 are English learners," attributed in the meeting to the staff presenter describing the subgroup of students yet to pass the assessment. - "We are about 75 percent passing rate of our our of that particular group," said the presenter describing retest results among the subgroup that retook the assessment.

Next steps Administrators said buildings will continue to offer retest opportunities (some before the end of the school year and some during summer school) and that the district will analyze instructional adjustments for cohorts moving forward. The district also will monitor how cohort reporting appears in state comparisons next year given the shift to universal second-grade testing.