Colleton County reports double-digit ELA gain; district outlines interventions, PBIS pilot and SC Works partnership

Superintendent Williams told the Colleton County School District Committee of the Whole on Sept. 9 that districtwide English/language arts results rose 10.2 percentage points — from 32% to 42.2% — and that the state recognized the district as second in South Carolina for growth in ELA.

That improvement, Williams said, reduced the district’s immediate risk of state takeover and reflected “the persistent work of our teachers, our staff, our administrators, and most notably ... our students.” She told the board the gains represent both year-to-year increases and growth when students are tracked as cohorts across grades.

The superintendent and district staff described several concurrent steps meant to sustain academic gains and address remaining gaps: weekly classroom observations and data reflections led by district instructional leaders; targeted middle-school math supports including math labs and a math interventionist; participation in the Palmetto math project; partnerships with Sylvan Learning Center for tutoring; and continued use of benchmark systems such as MasteryConnect at the high school level.

Superintendent Williams said the district will continue data-driven work at principals meetings and that district consultants will lead root-cause analyses for end-of-course (EOC) results, where some subject areas showed declines. She reported a 6.8 percentage-point gain in Algebra I (from 20.7% to 27.5% scoring C or better) but noted decreases in biology, English II and U.S. history EOC pass rates.

District staff described cohort progress as a key indicator: Williams noted one cohort rose from 33.5% meeting/above standards in third grade to 42.9% the following year. She also reminded the board that school report cards include multiple indicators — student achievement, growth, college/career readiness, English-learner progress, graduation, and school climate — and said the state release of report cards was expected by Oct. 15.

On behavior supports, Principal Guarino outlined a pilot at Forest Hills Elementary that pairs two positive behavior support specialists (PBSS) to reduce referrals and keep students in class. The specialists run restorative conversations, “spotlight” students in classrooms to prevent escalation, operate a mindfulness room and coordinate incentives (dojo points redeemable for experiences, quarterly “pause” celebrations). Guarino said the dual-PBSS model improves responsiveness, allows team interventions across the building and supports MTSS (multi-tiered system of supports).

Dr. Kadehia Jenkins and other district leaders said the PBSS work will be documented (Google forms, referral tracking) so the district can measure effects such as reduced referrals and increased instructional time.

On career readiness and adult education, Williams introduced a memorandum of understanding with SC Works. Guest presenter Mister Horvath described the planned colocated services: adult education and workforce staff will offer career guidance, testing, training, paid internships, on-the-job training, and Wagner-Peyser services from a district hub. Horvath said SC Works staff will provide an additional receptionist for the district’s main office, run a resource room with adaptive technology, and connect job seekers and students to employers. He added the partners will handle required signage and a public information effort when the office relocates.

Williams told the board she has had the MOU reviewed by attorneys and that she intends to sign the agreement to formalize the partnership; the board asked questions about hours, signage and safeguards for interactions with students. Horvath said adult education clients are age 17 and older and that district security procedures and partner staff training will apply.

District leaders also summarized other initiatives tied to improvement: expansion of work-based learning coordination at TCTC, continued high-school benchmarking and follow-up, and targeted recommendations from recent capital-project small-group sessions (administration to present formal capital recommendations to the board on Sept. 16).

"We are moving academically," Williams said, noting both celebrations and the work that remains.

Local context and next steps: district leaders said they will return with deeper data analyses at principals’ meetings and to the full board; the superintendent said the district will proceed with signing the SC Works MOU and will present capital-project recommendations at the next meeting.