District staff told the Petaluma City Schools board on Nov. 18 that work on elementary common math assessments will resume more cautiously after teachers found the K–2 pilot time‑consuming and poorly aligned with report cards. The district paused large‑scale K–2 rollout to prioritize a state‑mandated reading screener (DIBELS) and to review alternative, ready‑made assessments.

Gloria (presenter) said teachers valued having a common assessment but criticized the math pilot for being a 1:1, time‑intensive measure that did not map to classroom report cards. She said the K–2 committee will review other districts’ instruments and pilot a revised solution in spring, with scale‑up later if the pilot shows promise.

On grades 3–6, staff reported that Math Annex — a product the district had been using — was acquired and updated by Amplify, which offered the district a free one‑year trial. Trustees said that availability could speed adoption for upper elementary grades.

Trustees and staff also outlined a parallel plan for secondary math. Committee co‑facilitators described how they identified eight essential units across math 7, 8, Math 1–3 and recommended using Smarter Balanced Interim Assessment Blocks (IABs/FIABs) this spring to pilot common practice and data review. The plan calls for teacher PD, a March data‑analysis cycle, and a second common assessment later in spring to measure progress.

Board members pressed for clearer timelines and benchmarks. Trustee 25 asked what threshold would move the district from pilot to districtwide implementation, citing persistent dashboard declines for long‑term English learners and students with disabilities. The presenter said the district would pilot in stages — starting with grade bands where teacher capacity and platform fit are feasible — and return to the board with a spring‑pilot report.

Why it matters: Trustees framed the common‑assessment work as central to equitable instruction and to diagnosing gaps that drive graduation and math‑readiness problems later in secondary school. Staff said adopting an accessible, online instrument will reduce teacher workload and provide better reporting for intervention planning.

What’s next: District staff will convene K–2 and 3–6 committees to evaluate off‑the‑shelf options, host an Amplify demo for committee members, and use Smarter Balanced IABs for limited secondary pilots in math 7, 8 and Math 1 beginning this spring. The board asked staff to return with a pilot timeline, outreach plan to increase teacher participation, and measures of success for a full rollout.