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Northern Lebanon SD pilots PDElinked Firefly benchmark in Algebra 1; plans two-year Algebra course and state-required financial literacy
Summary
At its March 4 committee meeting, district administrators described a Firefly benchmark pilot limited to Algebra 1 this year, said the state will use pilot data to norm the assessment, and outlined plans for a two-year Algebra 1 course and an 11th-grade financial literacy requirement.
At a March 4 committee meeting of the Northern Lebanon School Board of Directors, district administrators described a pilot of the Pennsylvania Department of Educationlinked Firefly benchmark assessment in Algebra 1 and said they plan to expand use next year. They also outlined curriculum changes including a proposed two-year Algebra 1 sequence and a new financial literacy course to meet state graduation requirements.
Administrators said Firefly is different from the district's historical CDT (diagnostic) assessments because Firefly is a state-designed benchmark intended to be more closely aligned to Keystone assessment anchors. "Firefly will give us benchmarks in the testing grade levels that we have not really had in the past," an administrator said, adding that the pilot this year covered only the Algebra 1 course and that the state is still norming results. The district reported it has administered Firefly once this year and plans a second administration before Keystone testing.
Officials said the pilot produced limited actionable item-analysis this year because Firefly is in a statewide pilot and the vendor is still norming scores; they expect more useful data next year. The district also said it may replace its existing elementary benchmark provider (InSight, the district data warehouse) with Firefly if results and alignment to Pennsylvania assessments prove stronger.
On course design, administrators described a proactive two-year Algebra 1 option intended to deepen students' conceptual preparation for the Keystone and outlined a financial literacy course planned for 11th grade that will fulfill a state graduation requirement. One administrator estimated about "75% may go that direction" for the two-year Algebra option, adding that counselors and dual-enrollment options could allow students who accelerate later to catch up.
District leaders said they are balancing diagnostic tools teachers use for immediate instruction (CDTs) with benchmark information intended to predict Keystone performance. They emphasized the pilot nature of Firefly this year and said the district expects Firefly to be "a great resource" for alignment and student preparation once the state completes norming.
The presentation did not include a formal vote; administrators said next year's wider rollout is the target for meaningful, item-level Firefly data.
