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District leaders report FastBridge gains and expand LETRS training, IXL use across K–12
Summary
District leaders presented FastBridge screening results, MTSS/PLCs work and expanded LETRS literacy training; the board voted to add a standing Student Academic Achievement item to future agendas.
District administrators told the Lansing School Board that winter FastBridge screening results show positive trends and outlined steps to expand targeted interventions, teacher professional development and literacy training across the district.
Dr. Dalton (district administrator) and building principals walked the board through district-level MTSS (multi-tiered system of supports) work, how FastBridge screeners are being used as checkups to guide interventions, and the district’s use of common formative assessments in PLCs (professional learning communities). “What we use it for is to know where should we place kids for differentiation in terms of the intervention or enrichment they need,” Dr. Dalton said of FastBridge.
Administrators described classroom‑based Tier 1 instruction, expanded use of IXL and other diagnostic tools and targeted intervention blocks. At the elementary level, staff said vocabulary training, oral-reading-fluency practice and a “behavior intervention support team” (BIST) model are supporting gains; one principal reported an opportunity to add enrichment for second-graders because remediation needs had declined.
The district also described an ongoing rollout of LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) training. Staff said several teachers recently completed LETRS cohorts and that more teachers are enrolled in staggered cohorts; administrators described the program as a multi-year, train‑the‑trainer effort. “We have seen improvements, and we continue to see improvements,” a LETRS-trained staff member said, noting the training includes case-study students and immediate classroom implementation.
Administrators highlighted Greenbush professional development sessions and said the district is working to align early-childhood providers, childcare cohorts and K–12 instruction around Kansas Early Learning Standards. Principals cited IXL diagnostics and other tools for pinpointing gaps and building instructional study plans.
Board members moved to make academic updates a standing agenda item. A trustee said the change will give the board a regular forum for student achievement updates; the motion to add “student academic achievement” to monthly agendas passed by recorded vote.
District leaders emphasized that FastBridge is a screener used to monitor growth and drive instruction, not a summative test, and said results are used to identify students for interventions and to guide professional development.
