Anchorage School Board reviews early reading and math interim data, flags gaps and budget risks to interventions

The Anchorage School Board heard technical briefings on March 1 about the district's early-reading screeners and interim math measures, including MCAS DIBELS 8, MAP Growth (NWEA) and i-Ready diagnostics, and discussed achievement gaps, screening choices and how looming budget cuts could affect classroom interventions.

Chris Opitz, senior director of assessment and evaluation, summarized the district's two interim reading goals tied to the system's long-term target for third-grade proficiency on the AK STAR assessment. Opitz said the first interim goal (1.1) focuses on kindergarten and first-grade students and aims to raise the percentage of K-1 students at or above the MCAS DIBELS 8 benchmark from 55.8% in spring 2023 toward an 80% target by spring 2028. He said the district finished the 2023–24 school year at or above short-term targets and is tracking fall and winter data for the current year.

Opitz explained that MCAS DIBELS 8 is a curriculum-based, criterion-referenced early literacy screener intended to measure foundational skills rather than national grade-level norms. He told the board the screener is valid for large-scale…