Easton Area SD presents midyear assessment review; Paxinosa kindergarten shows notable reading gains

Easton Area School District administrators presented midyear screening and growth results at a special board meeting, reporting mixed districtwide progress in early reading and math while highlighting large kindergarten gains at Paxinosa Elementary after a targeted ECRI reading initiative.

At the meeting district leaders reviewed Acadience (DIBELS) screening for K–2, STAR benchmarks for grades 3–8 (reading) and grades 1–8 (math), and IXL diagnostic/growth measures used to set individual skill plans. Administrators said the district is working toward multi‑year goals set in the comprehensive plan and described near‑term steps — schedule changes, tighter curriculum fidelity and ongoing coaching — intended to increase students meeting benchmarks by year end.

Administrators said district goals include increasing the percentage of grade‑3 students reading on or above grade level by 2027, and reaching an 80 percent ELA and math proficiency rate K–8 by 2027; this school year the stated interim targets were 70 percent of K–3 reading on grade level and 65 percent proficiency in ELA/math for K–8. Dr. Draper said the results so far are "pretty pleasing," while noting there is more work to do to reach end‑of‑year targets.

Key midyear points presented -…