Leander ISD presents end-of-year "leading measures": gains in K-5 reading and PLC implementation

Leander ISD staff presented the district's end-of-year leading measures on June 9, reporting student assessment trends, professional learning community (PLC) implementation and a district project to evaluate student personal learning platforms. District staff said kindergarten through fifth-grade reading growth, measured with ISIP, tracked above national norms and showed a stair-step pattern of progress as cohorts advanced grades. Middle- and high-school language arts and math results were presented using quadrant plots (achievement vs. growth); most campuses fell within or above the national norm but district leaders said deeper analysis is needed at the student and TEKS level to guide targeted instruction. Staff reported increases in PLC foundational practices across campuses and stronger gains on questions about planning and interventions. Survey measures showed a rise from 62% at mid-year to 76% of collaborative team leaders having attended leadership workshops; 99% of collaborative team members rated themselves at "light or greater" PLC implementation in the district's implementation guide. The district said the next step is to strengthen student ownership of learning and broaden teacher and student use of instructional "one-pagers." District leaders also presented an exploratory review of platforms for student portfolios, personal learning plans and dashboards. Staff noted the district is "data rich" but lacks a single platform that aggregates student evidence, assessment details, multilingual support and parent access. Principals reported building local portfolio systems using Google Sites or Seesaw; district staff said they are evaluating dedicated solutions that could automate data aggregation and reduce teacher time spent manually compiling student information. Trustees asked staff to showcase campus examples in the feeder pattern that are already using portfolios and to confirm how a district-level solution would integrate with existing systems. Staff said they will advance vendor demonstrations and report back on cost and procurement options; they also flagged potential bond-funding pathways for eligible software purchases if the board wishes to pursue a platform this fiscal year.