Bolivar Intermediate highlights Title I interventions, reports drop in students needing reading plans

Bolivar Intermediate staff reported to the Bolivar R-I Board of Education in October that targeted Title I and tiered intervention work has reduced the number of students starting the year on reading success plans.

The update outlined how interventionists provide small-group, multi-sensory instruction and described measurable reductions in students flagged for reading support. “This year we serve 173 students in ELA, another 77 in math with a wait list of 32,” said a Bolivar Intermediate presenter. The presentation said benchmark and targeted Tier 2 instruction are central to the work.

Officials said their use of Reading Success Plans (RSPs) has declined across the cohort. “Looking at the fall 24–25, we had 91 third graders come in on RSPs. And this year, we had 59 come in,” the presenter said, citing a drop of 32 third graders and additional declines in fourth- and fifth-grade counts. The update credited a combination of “quality tier 1 instruction” and tier 2 interventionists for closing gaps and moving students back into general instruction when ready.

The board asked questions and commended the intermediates’ Professional Learning Community (PLC) culture. The presenters described instructional routines used in interventions—decoding, word work, vocabulary strategies, multisensory spelling and “access times” when interventionists work alongside classroom teachers.

District leaders framed the work as part of the broader CSIP (Comprehensive School Improvement Plan) priorities: positive and safe learning environments, PLC collaboration and improving tier 1 instruction.

The presentation included counts of staff assigned to interventions and a note that math support has a wait list, indicating capacity pressures going forward. Board members praised the reported progress and asked for ongoing updates tied to cohort outcomes.

The board did not take a separate vote on the interventions during the presentation; the update was informational.