New Berlin board hears spring screener results, outlines steps to narrow gaps for English learners and students with disabilities

The Board of Education of the School District of New Berlin received a presentation on spring universal screening results and district next steps during its meeting, where district leaders described gains in oral reading fluency and math automaticity while noting persistent gaps for English learners and students with disabilities.

District Director of Student Services Amanda Mizerkowitz told the board that FastBridge remains the district’s primary universal screener for most grades and that the district used AIMSweb Plus this winter because of a new state requirement. "FastBridge is our consistent universal screening tool that we use kindergarten through grade," Mizerkowitz said. She and other instructional leaders said they are using those data, classroom assessments and progress monitoring to create a district action plan and school-level plans through a leadership process they called SAIL.

The presentation included several quantitative points staff highlighted for the board. Mizerkowitz reported overall enrollment was down by five students between the certified September count and the May count, while the district saw…