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Burlington officials present iReady assessment results, outline curriculum and college-credit expansions
Summary
District leaders reviewed iReady math and reading results showing growth in many grades, described plans to revise middle school math curriculum, expand literacy programming, and outlined dual-enrollment, internship and AI learning initiatives.
Burlington Public Schools administrators presented districtwide iReady reading and math assessment results and outlined next steps for curriculum revisions, interventions and postsecondary pathways at the committee meeting.
District leaders described iReady as a combined norm-referenced and criterion-referenced screener administered multiple times per year and used to track growth. Presenters said kindergarten through fifth grade math screening using I‑Ready is new this year and that the tool allows comparison to national and Massachusetts norms.
Why this matters: The district framed iReady as an instructional tool that provides more timely feedback than MCAS results, which arrive in October. Administrators said the district is focused on “stretch growth” targets—growth greater than one year in a year—for students who need to catch up, and that stretch-growth metrics help prioritize interventions and curriculum adjustments.
Key points presented: - Early grades: The presenter said 67% of kindergarten students were mid or above grade level in math at year-end compared with a 48% national comparison on I‑Ready. - Middle grades: Administrators highlighted that some cohorts show declining mid/above-grade-level percentages as they progress (a trend the presenters said they will investigate in curriculum and scope-and-sequence work, particularly at middle school). - Growth focus: The district emphasized that typical and stretch growth measures can guide targeted interventions (MTSS) and that all students are assigned typical and stretch growth expectations.
Curriculum and program initiatives discussed included adopting a new K–5 literacy program, middle‑school math curriculum revision (target implementation 2026–27), ramped-up professional development (LETRS and Orton‑Gillingham options), and piloting co‑teaching models for English learners.
Postsecondary and career pathways: The district reported growing dual-enrollment participation (from about 154 students in 2023–24 to 156–275 students in recent years) and expanded employer partnerships for internships and STEM pathways. Officials said partnerships with Middlesex Community College and others enable students to earn college credits on the high school campus.
Administrators also described a state-supported summer AI/STEM pilot funded by the governor’s AI initiative, paid stipends for participants, and plans to broaden industry-connected internships through a pathways coordinator.
District leaders said they will continue to disaggregate iReady results, monitor cohort trends, and present detailed data at school and student levels to guide targeted curriculum revisions and instructional supports.
Ending: The committee was told more granular reports will be available and that the district will pilot curriculum changes and report progress in future meetings.
