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District officials report mixed student‑growth results; middle school shows notable gains
Summary
District curriculum staff reviewed standardized‑test growth measures and said the middle school lifted growth enough to be removed from its targeted improvement plan. Staff highlighted recovery from COVID learning loss and outlined next steps on curriculum alignment, professional development and data systems.
District curriculum and instruction staff presented growth data and strategic priorities at the Susquehanna Township School Board meeting, highlighting mixed results across grades and subjects and marked growth at the middle‑school level.
The presenter said the district is focusing on growth measures (MAP and PSSA/Keystone growth) rather than only proficiency, and set multi‑year growth targets through 2027. Staff showed comparative data from February 2022 and February 2024: several elementary grades remained below growth targets in some subjects, while fifth grade, seventh grade and eighth grade met or exceeded growth targets in specific areas. The presenter noted that middle‑school math and ELA show measurable gains and that the middle school has recently been removed from a state‑targeted improvement plan because of its growth results.
Curriculum staff described planning priorities that include vertical alignment of curriculum K–12, expanded professional development driven by building‑level teacher input, a centralized curriculum hub for materials, revised induction for new staff, differentiated teacher supervision and the development of CTE pathways beginning with education. Staff said these efforts are designed to convert gains in growth into longer‑term proficiency.
Board members asked for additional historical context and baseline comparisons pre‑COVID; staff agreed to provide multi‑year comparisons that reach back to pre‑pandemic years on request. A board member who visited a classroom said students could articulate which competency group they are in and what they are working toward, and praised staff for engaging students in their learning. That board member said, “they told me exactly what they were supposed to be learning… I said I'm working to get up to 7 B,” reflecting classroom conversations reported to the board.
Staff acknowledged that COVID‑era disruptions depressed scores and that recovery will take multiple years in some grades. They said the district has seen “early signals” of rebound where competency‑based practices have been in place longer and that they will continue to measure growth year to year and expand supports where needed. The presentation closed with a list of next steps and requests for ongoing data reporting and curriculum development work.
Ending: Curriculum staff will supply additional historical comparisons on request and continue to advance curriculum writing, data systems and professional development to sustain growth trends.
