Columbia Heights schools outline Vision 2030 targets: reading and math growth goals, PLC cycles and new data partnerships
Loading...
Summary
District principals presented Vision 2030 updates across elementary and secondary schools, reporting FastBridge growth measures and setting 2026 targets (roughly 5–15% increases depending on school), expanding PLC cycles, and partnering with the University of Minnesota to refine EL and assessment analyses.
Principals from Highland, North Park, Valley View, Columbia Academy and the district's secondary schools presented Vision 2030 updates to the Columbia Heights school board on Nov. 25, outlining academic growth goals, family-engagement strategies and curriculum alignment.
Highland's presentation said roughly 56% of students made typical or aggressive growth in literacy last year and over 60% in math; the school set targets for 65% making typical/aggressive growth and a proficiency goal of 40% by June 2026. Principal Jenke emphasized culturally responsive instruction and PLC (professional learning community) cycles, saying most Highland PLC teams had completed two cycles and aim for five cycles this year.
North Park reported similar improvement metrics and an attendance increase attributed to an attendance grant and weekly attendance-team work; North Park set growth goals of about 60% typical/aggressive growth and 40% proficiency for 2025—6. Presenters highlighted the BIPOC family advisory and plans to rotate meetings across schools to increase participation.
Valley View presenters emphasized the district's changing demographics (EL populations rising to about 65% in some schools) and said their EL students outpaced state averages on ACCESS testing (66.2% meeting goals vs. 46% statewide). Valley View also announced a research partnership with the University of Minnesota to better triangulate FastBridge, MCA and PLC data and to set realistic goals for multilingual learners.
Secondary principals described PLC restructuring, curriculum alignment, functional morphology and vocabulary work, and grade-level goals for FastBridge growth and proficiency (middle/high school targets ranged from 5% to 15% improvements depending on the indicator). Columbia Academy and the high school reported progress in extracurricular engagement, graduation rates above the state average, and a focus on testing stamina and college-access initiatives (including Minnesota direct admissions).
Board members asked clarifying questions about PLC cycles, how FastBridge relates to MCAs, parent communication methods (Seesaw, Synergy), and how teacher professional development and curriculum changes are being timed with state standards. Principals stressed that FastBridge offers timely, tri-annual progress data the district uses to adjust instruction between MCA reporting cycles.
The board received the presentations for information; no votes were required on the Vision 2030 reports at this meeting.
