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Wilson Middle School presents third-year ATSI plan; district staff cite WIDA ACCESS gains and ELD strategies
Summary
Wilson Middle School presented its third-year targeted support and improvement (ATSI) plan. Staff reported growth on WIDA ACCESS language proficiency assessments, described interventions (portfolios, Elevation platform, parent engagement) and said the board will be asked to affirm the plan in two weeks.
Wilson Middle School administrators and teachers presented the school's third-year ATSI (targeted support and improvement) plan at a Carlisle Area School District committee meeting.
Jake Evans, principal at Wilson Middle School, introduced the team: Tiffany Lessard (ELD supervisor), Christine Casay (assistant principal), and ELD teachers Laura Strickland and Carolyn Steele. Tiffany Lessard reviewed WIDA ACCESS assessment scoring (proficiency composite calculated as 35 percent writing, 35 percent reading, 15 percent listening, 15 percent speaking) and reported that, across grades, nearly half of tested students in the most recent administration scored in proficiency levels 4—5 (higher proficiency). Lessard emphasized the difficulty of comparing multiyear results because cohort composition shifts: only six students in one cohort attended all three years reflected in the data.
Teachers described classroom practices: grouped cycles (students seen in resource rotations every six days), portfolios (periodic writing samples and growth artifacts), newcomer-focused instruction after testing cycles, and parent-engagement events that include student portfolio celebrations. Staff noted 80 ELLs at Wilson, roughly 40 of whom receive direct pull-out ELD instruction; others receive grade-level instruction with supports. The school uses the Elevation data platform to centralize ELD goals, benchmarks and instructional resources.
Administrators said the ATSI plan is a renewal and that, if the board signs an affirmation statement at the regular meeting in two weeks, the district will submit the plan to the Pennsylvania Department of Education. No committee vote occurred; the administration said the affirmation statement will be included in the board packet for the full board to review and sign.
