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Quakertown expands IXL rollout to grades 2'8; district emphasizes teacher coaching and student goal-setting
Summary
After several years of limited use, Quakertown expanded the adaptive practice platform IXL districtwide for grades 2'8 and Algebra students this fall. Staff emphasized coaching, phased professional development and student goal-setting to avoid using the tool as unguided independent work.
The Quakertown Community School District has expanded use of the adaptive practice platform IXL to grades 2'8 and Algebra students this fall, district leaders said, and are positioning the tool as one part of a multi-measure approach to data-informed instruction.
District staff told the Education Committee that IXL was previously used for targeted small-group work (including ELD interventions) beginning in 2021, expanded in 2024 for roughly 1,000 secondary students, and this school year has been implemented more broadly in elementary and middle school grades. "IXL is standards aligned and personalized, adapting to each student," a presenter said, adding the platform provides real-time feedback and curated skill roadmaps after a diagnostic benchmark.
Implementation and training: Staff said teachers received roughly three hours of district-level professional development to administer the IXL diagnostic and access student personalized plans; coaches and coordinators are providing job-embedded follow-up and differentiated support. Presenters emphasized layered, phased use: (1) administer the diagnostic; (2) use personalized practice for targeted skill work; (3) later, connect IXL practice with state-focused PSSA/Keystone-aligned preparation.
Use in classrooms: Staff stressed IXL is intended to be a teacher-guided instructional tool, not a substitute for whole-class teaching. Examples included short warm-up diagnostic checks, small-group instruction during Win (intervention) time, and using IXL reports to inform reteach or enrichment plans. "This data that this is collecting, will it also show whether or not the teachers are utilizing it properly so the coaches can focus in on those teachers to help them to utilize this better," a board member asked; staff said administrators will use diagnostic and growth reports to monitor fidelity and coach teachers.
Student-facing work and family communication: Staff said the student dashboard provides concise progress summaries and "trouble spots" teachers can use to set measurable goals with students. The district plans parent-facing reports and classroom-level guidance so students understand how to set and monitor goals.
Next steps: Staff said they will continue phased professional development and share redacted screens and parent-report templates for board review; coaches and interventionists will use IXL reporting in MTSS and building-level data meetings.
