Washington Elementary reports higher proficiency and lower behavior incidents after MTSS and attendance focus

Washington Elementary staff presented their site plan and building results to the North Platte Public Schools board during the Aug. 28 Committee of the Whole.

The presenter reported that the school exceeded last year's proficiency goals: "As you can see ... 72 percent of our students actually did score at or above proficiency level," the presenter said, describing progress in ELA, math and science and crediting the school's organization of intervention and enrichment time and frequent data monitoring. Staff said they prioritized essential standards and used frequent formative and summative assessment to guide intervention groups.

On student behavior, the school reported a reduction in major office referrals from a previous year's 73% major incidents to 46% major incidents after adopting targeted strategies, including a "regulation station" in classrooms and updated flowcharts for discipline response. "It took a lot of time and a lot of work, but we focused on voice count, just explicitly teaching those strategies to the kids," the presenter said.

Washington also reported an overall attendance rate of 96.3% for 2024'025, exceeding a 96% goal. Staff said they used recognition programs, grade-level shout-outs and a quarterly "Level Up" award focused on improving chronic absenteeism.

Goals for the coming year include: returning to MAPS as an interim assessment to improve NSCAS results, refining intervention/enrichment implementation, vetting daily "mindful moments" and a rest block for kindergarten and first grade to address physical aggression and transition fatigue, and maintaining strategies to improve attendance.

Board members complimented the staff for their data-driven work and asked to receive updates on the kindergarten/first-grade rest-time pilot.