District presents targeted interventions, testing support at Opportunity Schools

District staff reported progress this week on supports for Opportunity Schools, describing increased tutoring, targeted intervention groups and assessment preparations as state testing began.

Dr. Rafalski, who is leading Opportunity Schools work, told the board the district had prioritized school visits, data meetings, tutoring supports and assessment countdowns. She said the district is collaborating with the State Regional Bureau of School Improvement and outside partners to monitor explicit instruction and align intervention supports to benchmark standards.

The presentation listed school-level initiatives: Anclote Elementary instructional assistants providing small-group tutoring; coordinated needs-assessment work at Cox Elementary with external partners; Exact Path (Edmentum) piloted in Opportunity middle schools with students earning incentives; and one-on-one, in-person tutoring three days a week at Gulf Middle School for the district’s neediest students. The presenter cited early usage numbers from one middle school where students had earned hundreds of Exact Path skills during a short pilot window.

Dr. Rafalski said planning for next year’s goals and resources is already underway and that the Opportunity Schools team would continue to prioritize behavior and staffing supports, interventions and testing environments.

Board members asked clarifying questions about program timing and vendors; staff said Exact Path was an Edmentum pilot provided at no charge for three Opportunity secondary schools during the trial period. Staff said the initiative has also been used for credit recovery and course recovery in secondary schools.