Board approves continuous improvement plans; district updates on retention law, interventions, and textbook adoption process

The Chesterfield County School District Board of Trustees voted Jan. 13 to submit continuous improvement plans for three underperforming schools and received updates on curriculum and student interventions.

Assistant superintendent and curriculum staff presented highlights: the district is implementing a "Kindergarten Connection" intervention with certified teachers providing small-group instruction in two spring cycles; a new elementary and middle-school math textbook adoption process will begin soon, with three candidate texts for each level and teacher review sessions planned. The district also reported use of supplemental learning platforms IXL (K–12) and i-Ready (K–8) to support individualized instruction.

Staff discussed Act 114, the state law concerning third-grade retention. District administrators said they are identifying students at risk using winter benchmark scores (December) and are offering small-group interventions during a February intersession; principals and teachers are meeting with parents about at-risk students. Administrators noted the district may be over-identifying students now and will refine identification after spring benchmark results.

Curriculum staff requested approval to submit continuous improvement plans for three schools identified as underperforming: Scharral High, Central High and New Heights Middle School. A motion was called, and the board approved the submission by voice vote (recorded as "Aye"). Staff said the plans will then be submitted to the South Carolina Department of Education.

Additional highlights included adult education programming (digital literacy, workplace soft skills), career and technical education accolades, expanded Chromebook support and network improvements from the IT department, and reminders about upcoming student contests and the district spelling bee on Jan. 28.