District leaders outline RAMS 12 strategy and expand tiered instruction across schools

District instructional leaders presented updates on the RAMS 12 strategic plan and a multi-level approach to instruction designed to ensure students receive responsive teaching and targeted interventions.

The presentation explained the three tiers: Tier 1 (guaranteed, viable curriculum delivered to all students), Tier 2 (targeted reteach or small-group intervention during flex/ram/win time based on common assessments), and Tier 3 (intensive pull-out interventions, sometimes replacing an elective for a trimester). Administrators said the model relies on professional learning communities (PLCs), common assessments, and progress monitoring to group students for intervention or extension.

Elementary principals described how "flex time" groups students for interventions and extensions. Middle-school staff outlined "run time" and "RAM time" structures that schedule interventions five days a week and allow students to self-schedule sessions by Monday each week based on teacher-identified needs. High-school leaders said they are building a model adapted to the complexity and scheduling constraints of grades 9-12.

Why it matters: the tiered approach aims to personalize instruction so students who have not mastered standards receive timely reteach supports while students who have mastered content receive extension opportunities. Trustees asked about services for specific needs such as dyslexia and heard about in-building expertise and programs such as Orton-Gillingham for targeted literacy support.

Next steps: building-level teams will continue implementing and refining practices, with progress checkpoints tied to the collaborative calendar and early-release professional learning time.

Quote: "Tiered instruction is really this idea that we're focusing on learning. We're not focusing just on teaching," a district presenter said.