Rescue Union reports modest CAASPP gains, plans spring pilot of new math curriculum

Rescue Union Elementary School District officials reported incremental improvements on statewide assessments and outlined plans to pilot new math curriculum materials.

During a presentation on student performance, the district assessment lead said the district saw modest year‑over‑year gains — roughly 1.5 to 2 percentage points in English language arts and about 1 percentage point in mathematics — while noting the district remained “about 4 ish percent away” of pre‑COVID levels. The presenter described variation by cohort: "seventh grade is one that really...was our largest grade level in terms of standards exceeded and standards met," while some eighth‑grade cohorts showed declines.

Administrators told trustees the district serves 753 students and employs 37 teachers, counselors and classified staff. Staff also reported other engagement metrics: teachers and students logged roughly 1,800,000 IXL math questions and about 420,000,000 words reported via Accelerated Reader over the previous year.

District leaders said they are using multiple tools to track and support progress, including trimester IXL diagnostics and local trimester assessments. The district has signed an agreement to implement EduCLIMBER as a centralized student data system to combine local and state measures and improve long‑range tracking.

On curriculum, district staff described a review process that reduced a state list of roughly 65 approved math programs to 10 and then to six for further evaluation. About 30 teachers are participating in a pilot program; the district plans classroom pilots in spring and aims to return to the board with an adoption recommendation in May.

Trustees asked for multiyear trend data and more detailed breakout of pre‑COVID benchmarks; the assessment lead said staff would provide comparisons over a five‑ or six‑year period. The board did not take action on curriculum at this meeting.