District credits literacy training and curriculum updates as report-card scores improve
Summary
Elementary leaders outlined LETRS training and Savvas MyView curriculum implementation while directors said the district reached the 'significantly exceeds expectations' level on the state DPI report card (district score reported as 84.4). Administrators cautioned that an AIMSweb Plus renorming affects year-to-year percentile comparisons.
District elementary leaders told the board that expanded teacher training and curriculum changes are supporting classroom literacy, and district accountability directors reported that the overall district report-card rating improved to the state’s top category.
Principals said the district is in its second year using Savvas MyView and in the middle of a two‑year LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) rollout of professional development for teachers. Principal Brett Humphrey explained the acronym in the presentation: “That’s an acronym for, language essentials for teachers, for of reading and spelling.” Principals described classroom-level approaches (small-group instruction, gradual release of responsibility, ORACY strategies) and said teachers are using diagnostic data to target foundational skills.
Assessment technical note: presenters said AIMSweb Plus (a Pearson assessment) was renormed this summer; the renorming changed percentile rankings and complicates simple year-to-year comparisons. District presenters urged interpreting AIMSweb alongside STAR and state assessments (Forward, ACT) and looking at student-level data for program planning.
State report card results: presenters summarized four DPI priority areas — achievement, growth, target-group outcomes and on-track-to-graduation — and noted several technical changes for 2025, including new participation flags for under-95% test participation and updated rating ranges. The presentation noted that the district performed at the “significantly exceeds expectations” level for the first time and reported a district score of 84.4.
Board members asked for follow-up access to the student-level data and value-added calculations used by DPI so principals and school improvement teams can drill into cohorts. District staff said the report card is a first-look indicator and that principals will use raw student-level data (the data submitted to DPI) and other local measures to refine school improvement plans.
What’s next: presenters said principals and school improvement teams will continue to analyze report-card indicators and use multiple local measures to target supports for the district’s lowest-performing students.
