Scranton SD unveils academic recovery plan; cites grade‑8 math dip and behavioral‑health funding risk

Dr. Keating, presenting on behalf of the Scranton School District, told the board the district faces a split picture: 'our achievement scores are poor. Our growth is phenomenal,' and pledged a focused recovery effort to close achievement gaps while maintaining growth momentum.

The presentation, framed as part of the district's financial recovery plan, identified two central goals: raising K–12 student achievement and implementing evidence‑based instructional practices. Keating urged targeted work on math foundations, particularly a notable performance dip that begins in grade 8 and continues into the Algebra I Keystone exam. Keating said the district will 'really need to dive into the data' to pinpoint causes and remedies.

Keating listed subgroup targets — economically disadvantaged students, students with exceptionalities, English learners and racial subgroups — and said subgroup results mirror the district's overall pattern: strong year‑over‑year growth but insufficient numbers at grade level. On literacy she described a partnership with the Scranton Federation of Teachers and the American Federation of Teachers around the 'science of reading' and said the district must ensure 'every teacher is a teacher of literacy.'

She described curriculum change toward what the transcript refers to as 'STEALS' standards for 2025–26, a move she said will shift instruction toward constructivist, project‑based learning and require substantial professional development for teachers and principals. Keating also pointed to peer learning (teacher consortia) and partnerships with the University of Virginia and the Darvin School of Business to strengthen the K–8 continuum and middle‑school transitions.

On student supports, Keating warned the district could lose a significant share of contracted school‑ and community‑based behavioral‑health teams, calling it 'a huge loss to us' that would harm students and families who rely on those services. She said the district convened juvenile‑justice, probation, the police department, mental‑health professionals and union representatives on June 17 and plans to petition the All 1 Foundation for grant funding to underwrite restorative‑justice work and related clinical staff (initially estimated at five to six, possibly six to eight clinicians over about five years).

Keating highlighted program growth and pipeline moves: the STEM Academy enrolled about 220 students for 2024–25 (she said there were more than 140 applications for roughly 60 seats) and the district projects the program could grow to about 330 students by 2026–27. She also reported the Scranton Cyber Academy would finish the year near 1,100 students, making it one of the district's largest 'schools,' and stressed the need for targeted interventions for at‑risk online learners.

Board members asked about restorative practices; one member suggested peer mediators as young as 4th grade and offered to write letters of support. Keating agreed peer mediation could be part of the effort and confirmed that 1st District Attorney Gallagher attended the restorative meeting and is supportive.

Keating closed by reiterating that the academic work will be ongoing over the summer and into the next school year, including principal data workshops, continued partnerships and additional detail to be presented in future meetings.