Jamestown schools outline shift to standards‑based learning as board adopts 2025–26 strategic plan

Jamestown Public School teachers told the school board on Sept. 2 that the district is moving toward standards‑based learning and reporting — using a set of “priority standards” and proficiency scales so students, teachers and families see specific learning targets — and the board approved the district's 2025–26 strategic plan and related documents.

The presentation opened with teachers from elementary through high school describing a three‑to‑four proficiency scale tied to North Dakota State Standards and saying the district's primary goal is “100% of courses and grade levels reporting proficiency on priority academic standards by 2027,” according to Jennifer Gall, middle school librarian, who led much of the presentation. “This isn't necessarily new. We've been working with standards for decades,” Gall said, adding the district aims to make learning expectations “guaranteed and viable” across buildings.

The plan, teachers said, centers on clarity: priority standards narrow the curriculum away from a “mile wide, inch deep” approach and give teachers specific proficiency scales and student‑friendly “I can” statements. Toni McEntire, an English instructor at Jamestown High School, said the high school is keeping conventional letter grades while adding standards‑referenced reports so families see both conventional averages and where a student stands against the…