District reports strong Regents and AP results; QUEST group urges two full-time Instructional Challenge teachers

District officials presented a summary of student assessment results and curriculum developments, and a parent advocacy group urged additional Instructional Challenge (IC) staffing.

Curriculum director Shana Clayton (title per transcript: "Ms. Clayton") told the board that students continued to perform well on Regents exams, noting district proficiency and mastery figures and pointing out three new exams this year: geometry, earth and space science, and life science (biology). Clayton said earth and space science was a particularly challenging new exam with high literacy demands; she noted multiple middle school students took Regents exams and that the district had strong AP participation (941 students took APs and 2,357 exams were administered electronically this year).

During questions, a board member raised concerns about chemistry performance and the impact of standards and regrouping changes. Clayton said the district is conducting a gap analysis of item-level demands, using released cluster questions and state investigations to plan instruction and prepare for new standards.

In public comment, Meredith Graham representing QUEST and other parents urged the board to add two full-time IC teachers so each elementary and middle school would have a full-time IC teacher. Graham said IC support affects high-ability students' academic and social-emotional needs and provided multiple parent testimonials about the IC program's positive effect.

Ending: The board took no immediate budgetary action at the meeting. QUEST and parents asked the board to consider the IC staffing request during upcoming budget planning; the district will continue assessment work and gap analyses as it prepares to implement new exam standards.