Volusia County Schools report small gains in literacy and math at midyear progress review

Volusia County Schools officials presented a midyear progress review on March 11, saying the district has seen modest increases in several state and district assessments and is deploying targeted small‑group supports before end‑of‑year exams.

Superintendent Dr. Carmen Balgobin opened the workshop by describing the session as a “midyear course correction plan” tied to the district strategic plan’s single goal of “engaging all students in high levels of learning every day.” Dr. Valle, the district’s teaching and learning lead, then summarized cross‑content work from early learning through high school.

Early learning coordinator Jessica Duncan said the district’s VPK Star early literacy data show an increase: “You can see that we have increased into 82 percent,” she said of students meeting the state expectation at the midyear monitoring point. Duncan credited a district Canvas resource for VPK teachers, implementation of the Nemours Reading BrightStart program for small‑group instruction, data chats with resource teachers, and enrollment in the New Worlds…