PXU presents midyear NWEA‑based ACT predictions and reports midyear reductions in chronic absenteeism

Phoenix Union staff presented the district’s first midyear progress monitoring report tied to board goals adopted in October 2024, using NWEA winter assessments to predict spring ACT outcomes and to track chronic absenteeism.

Assessment staff explained NWEA is adaptive and used as a predictor for ACT benchmarks; they noted prediction uncertainty for students who did not take the winter assessment. The district’s first predictions show modest gains toward goals: staff reported estimated increases for the class of 2026 from 7% to 10% meeting the ACT English benchmark overall, with larger target increases for Black/African American and Native American student cohorts.

On absenteeism, the district presented a baseline of 49% chronically absent for 2023–24 and reported a midyear district rate of about 45%, with 9 of 18 campuses meeting the goal of reducing chronic absenteeism by 5% or more at semester and another five campuses also showing reductions. Staff emphasized that chronic absenteeism is measured as missing 10% of school days (about 18 of 180) and described strategies including check‑and‑connect case management, student liaisons, ExactPath and ACT online prep to support students and raise testing take rates.

Board members asked about makeup testing windows, how the district calculates predictions when winter scores are missing, and the size and timing of caseloads for attendance interventions. Presenters said makeup testing windows exist within each NWEA cycle, but closing a window is necessary to calculate predictor data, and staff offered follow‑up meetings and data dives for interested board members.

Superintendent Andrade and assessment staff said they will continue data summits, campus roadshows and targeted supports and will return to the board with more detailed campus‑level breakdowns and follow‑up action plans.