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Ames board approves two high‑school intervention courses to expand MTSS support
Summary
The Ames Community School District Board of Directors approved two semester‑length intervention courses at Ames High School to provide targeted literacy and mathematics support for students identified through district screening and course data.
The Ames Community School District Board of Directors approved two new semester‑length intervention courses for Ames High School intended to provide targeted literacy and mathematics skill building for students identified through district screening and course data.
Associate Superintendent (presenter) told the board that the two courses—Foundations of Literacy, Reading and Writing, and Mathematical Reasoning, Quantitative Foundations—are designed as intervention classes that use screening assessments (the district’s ISES screening) and course or grade‑level assessment data to identify students who would benefit from focused, semester‑long instruction. The presenter said students would receive elective credit for completing the course; the district does not intend the courses to be “credit recovery” for a previously failed class but rather a route to build missing skills.
The presenter said the courses are intended to be staffed from existing MTSS (Multi‑Tiered System of Supports) personnel and that the high school is not requesting additional staff or new curriculum purchases at this time. The district plans to remove a student from the course once assessment data indicate the intervention is no longer necessary. The presenter also said the initial rollout is likely to be semester‑based, and the program is not yet structured to enroll students mid‑semester because the district must resolve credit‑issuance details before allowing mid‑term entries.
Board members asked clarifying questions about staffing, whether the classes were essentially a form of credit recovery, and how students would be selected. Director Brett Becker confirmed the district would not hire new personnel for the program, and the presenter reiterated that the work will be done by existing MTSS staff. Director Angie Deward said she intended to support the course approvals.
Motion and vote: Director Angie Deward moved to approve the new courses as presented; the motion was seconded by Director Aaron Rodriguez and approved unanimously, 6–0.
Why it matters: The district says the courses are intended to strengthen core skills for students who are identified by screening and classroom data, aligning with the district’s MTSS and the broader instructional framework. The Board approved the courses without a request for added staffing or curriculum funds.
Where this appeared in the meeting record: discussion of the courses began when the associate superintendent presented the proposal and concluded with the board motion to approve the courses.
