Holliston district adopts tighter progress monitoring and dyslexia action steps after DESE institute

Holliston Public Schools officials told the school committee on May 1 that they will step up progress monitoring and formalize data-driven intervention steps after participating in DESE's Dyslexia Institute and internal reviews.

District leaders said the change is aimed at earlier identification and faster adjustment of supports for students who struggle with reading. "We believe that effective literacy instruction must be explicit, systematic and data driven," a member of the institute team said during the presentation.

The district's literacy team described changes already underway at elementary and middle schools: progress monitoring that used to be monthly is being intensified to biweekly or weekly for students with higher needs; classroom teachers are now conducting some progress checks alongside specialists; and the district is using aim lines and growth…