Caswell County board approves school improvement plans; $16,800 ATSI allocation and in-school retesting discussed

The Caswell County Board of Education on Nov. 3 approved school improvement plans for all six district schools after principals outlined targeted instruction and support strategies aimed at boosting student growth.

During the meeting interim Bartlett/Bartlett Yancey High School principal Misty Carter described a data-driven approach centered on core instruction, frequent instructional walkthroughs, professional development and a "learning hub" tutoring model. North Elementary and South Elementary principals presented gains and concrete interventions: North highlighted a 67 school-performance score and an Achieve3000 implementation to support a 1,000,000-minute reading challenge; South described growth that moved the school from a D to a C and cited a 91.9 growth index that placed it in the top 10% statewide.

The presentations fed into a single board motion by Miss Begley, seconded by Ms. Smith, to approve all school improvement plans; the chair called for hands and the motion carried.

Why it matters: staff said the plans target persistent subgroup gaps through MTSS, frequent progress monitoring and tutoring tied to state accountability measures. District staff emphasized that principal-level leadership and teacher professional development are central to maintaining recent gains.

Federal designations and funding: staff from the Office of Federal Programs told the board two schools were designated as TSIC (targeted support and improvement, corrective) and two as ATSI (additional targeted support and improvement). The district received an ATSI allocation of $16,800 (PRC 105), which staff proposed splitting evenly between Oakwood Elementary and Dillard Middle School and spending on supports aligned to the identified subgroups.

Assessment changes: district staff also briefed the board on a revised NCDPI retesting policy for 2025–26 that allows a single in‑year retest per subject (math, reading, science) without requiring summer administration; staff said parental permission would be required and described the potential benefit of in‑school retesting to reduce transportation and remediation burdens.

Voices from the room: "We are putting things in place to keep this growth going," Misty Carter said about instructional and data practices at the high school. A North Elementary principal said Achieve3000 was acquired at a discount to expand at-home reading practice; a South principal noted the school’s culture change and targeted MTSS work as drivers of last year’s progress.

Next steps: staff will coordinate allocation details for the ATSI funds with each affected principal, continue implementing the retesting plan consistent with NCDPI guidance and report back on early measures of progress.