Phoenix Elementary District (4256) leaders told the governing board they are seeing progress on literacy-focused board goals and described steps to center resources at higher-need campuses.

The board’s update on goals 1 and 4 — which target literacy outcomes for grades 3 and 8 on the Arizona Academic Standards Assessment (AASA) — cited stronger classroom practices such as vocabulary strategies, increased instructional coaching, and the work of English immersion endorsed teachers. Officials said collaboration between English language interventionists and instructional coaches is strengthening professional learning across campuses.

On next steps, presenters emphasized giving students structured opportunities to practice and use vocabulary in-depth, providing regular feedback on vocabulary routines, and expanding coaching and leader training at each campus.

Superintendent Deborah Gonzales outlined components of the district’s guardrail 4 to ensure equitable resource allocation under a site-based budgeting process. She said interim guardrail 4.1 focuses on tutoring at focus schools; interim guardrail 4.2 directs that the district allocate 25% of district earned revenues back to schools, prioritizing campuses with greatest need and least access; and interim guardrail 4.3 expands access to curriculum-aligned field experiences funded by the district and contributing partners.

The recap did not include specific outcome figures for AASA scores, a timeline for evaluating the guardrail measures, or detailed budget line items beyond the 25% allocation statement.