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Methuen Public Schools outlines CKLA literacy rollout, PRISM‑funded coaching and new MTSS tracking platform
Summary
Assistant Superintendent presented the district's quarter‑1 strategic report highlighting CKLA adoption for K–4, a $225,000 PRISM grant for professional development, early benchmarking (DIBELS/DreamBox), and plans to launch a Cascades MTSS platform; the committee also ratified a Unit B contract.
Methuen — Methuen Public Schools officials presented a quarter‑1 progress report Nov. 24 detailing early implementation of a district literacy strategy, targeted interventions and family engagement work.
The administration said the district has adopted CKLA for kindergarten through grade 4 and launched professional development with Amplify trainers this fall, supported by a PRISM (Partnership for Reading Success) grant the presenter said allotted $225,000 for professional development. The district reported initial benchmarking using MClass/DIBELS and DreamBox/Reading Plus; administrators said kindergarten and some early grades show larger shares in the "below" categories and that a second benchmark (Dec. 8–19) will provide progress data.
To reduce opportunity and achievement gaps, the district described a revised master schedule for K–4 providing roughly 120 minutes per day of literacy instruction, expanded use of reading specialists in flexible "wind" blocks, and plans to strengthen MTSS. Administrators said they selected a vendor (Metamorphics) to customize a Cascades platform that will aggregate benchmarks, attendance, grades and behavioral indicators so teachers and TSS teams can track referrals, interventions and outcomes.
Officials also outlined Objective 3 work: a "portrait of a learner" process (teacher‑led working groups and community workshops) and efforts to increase extracurricular participation and mental‑health advisory work. The committee removed the Unit B contract ratification from the table and approved the MOU by voice vote.
District staff said next steps include Amplify coaching visits in December and sharing the PRISM landscape analysis and MTSS/Cascades screenshots at forthcoming quarterly meetings.
