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Jefferson Elementary credits MTSS, reading interventions and community partnerships for rising spring benchmark scores
Summary
Teachers and specialists told the Port Angeles School District board that multi-tiered reading supports, social-emotional learning and community partners helped raise spring benchmark and WSIF scores at Jefferson Elementary this year, though the school still reports a substantial share of students needing targeted reading support.
Jefferson Elementary staff told the Port Angeles School District Board of Directors on April 24 that a combination of district curriculum, targeted small-group instruction and strong community partnerships helped lift student outcomes this school year.
"We are committed to developing the whole child through multi tiered system of support," said Christine Chang, Title I reading specialist at Jefferson, describing how the school layers Tier 1 classroom instruction with Tier 2 and Tier 3 interventions.
The school reported benchmark assessment results showing year-to-year improvement in spring outcome measures after adopting district materials. Chang summarized benchmark categories and year-by-year shifts: in the current 2024-25 school year, Jefferson reported 49% of students classified as "intensive and strategic" and 51% "core and above" on fall benchmarks, with a final benchmark to be given in May. Staff described larger gains in prior years after full implementation of the new ELA curriculum.
Teachers and staff outlined the instructional tiers used at Jefferson. Tier 1 is whole-class instruction using district-adopted programs (Wit & Wisdom, Foundations and GDOE S, together with online tools such as IXL and Get Epic); Tier 2 students come to a literacy lab for small-group support using programs including Fundations, Leveled Readers, IXL and Houghton Mifflin materials; Tier 3 includes intensified instruction and programs such as Just Write readers, High Noon readers and the University of Florida literacy institute curriculum for students needing the most support.
School counselor Katie Kozlowski and behavior specialist Katrina Vogel described the school’s social-emotional supports, including weekly classroom lessons, community circles and small-group lunch "bunches." Vogel said the circles follow a set of agreements, noting, "What is said in the circle, stays in the circle," and described classroom routines that teach listening, empathy and self-regulation.
Fourth-grade teacher Raina Young and others detailed an extensive roster of field trips, community partners and volunteers that provide hands-on learning: the Port Angeles Education Foundation (PAEF), Wild Edge Farms, Olympic National Park, the Port Angeles Farmer’s Market, Master Gardeners, North Olympic Library System, Lower Elwha Tribe visits, Port Angeles Fire and Coast Guard visits, and others. Staff said those partnerships support swimming lessons, environmental education, garden projects and arts instruction.
Staff also credited the school’s PTO and volunteers for running family events and fundraisers: Family Literacy Night drew 306 attendees this year, up from prior years. Board members praised the school culture and noted that the combination of academic interventions and SEL programming is reflected both in visitors’ impressions and in the school’s WSIF (Washington School Improvement Framework) growth measures.
Board members asked about districtwide sharing of Jefferson’s approaches. Director Hubert suggested convening other schools to review Jefferson’s counseling and SEL practices so successful strategies can be scaled.
Jefferson staff concluded by thanking volunteers and the Port Angeles Education Foundation for grants and program support.
