Jefferson Elementary outlines attendance, behavior and academic goals after data retreat

Jefferson Elementary staff presented the school’s results from a recent data retreat and described plans to raise attendance, reduce disciplinary referrals and increase academic proficiency.

At the Committee of the Whole meeting May 29, a presenter from Jefferson summarized schoolwide goals established during the retreat, including maintaining a 95% average daily attendance rate, reducing chronic truancy and increasing grade-level proficiency in reading and math. The presentation credited work on MTSS (multi-tiered systems of support), targeted interventions and teacher PLC work for recent gains.

The presentation noted the school’s chronic absenteeism figure of 14% and said nearly all students had attendance plans late in the year; staff said no student exceeded 30 absent days and most had plans in place when absences accumulated. Staff described outreach strategies for next year — 5-day, 10-day and 20-day letters plus new postcards labeled “We missed you” — and classroom- and grade-level celebrations to encourage attendance.

On behavior, presenters said some increases in documented referrals likely reflected better documentation rather than more incidents. Staff reported fewer physical-aggression incidents on playgrounds after this year’s interventions and said the school currently has 10 active behavior plans that include family and community-agency involvement; several students had graduated from those plans. About 35 students received year-end recognition for having zero office referrals for the full year.

Academic measures discussed included DIBELS (K–5 literacy screener) and NSCAS results; presenters said math and reading showed gains from the prior year and that science gains were notable after participation in a STEM pilot. The presenters explained their target threshold (65% proficiency in math, described as a step toward “great”) and said mobility and classroom teacher turnover (one fifth-grade class had five different teachers) affected results in some grades.

Staff described operational steps for next year: increased use of targeted interventions, an online math book study for teachers over the summer, monthly MTSS meetings, and continued emphasis on tier‑1 fidelity in classrooms. Presenters also highlighted school celebrations, a new digital sign installed with a private donation, and a one-school book program and grants used to increase literacy access.

Board members responded with praise for the level of data shared and the candid review of areas needing improvement. Questions at the meeting covered mobility-rate reporting timelines and how chronic-absence percentages are calculated when students enroll midyear.

The presentation closed with staff describing a student-centered commitment activity created at the retreat and a plan to return to regular progress updates next school year.