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Petaluma board pauses K–2 math roll‑out, prioritizes new state reading screener and pilot plans for secondary math
Summary
District leaders told the board they paused a K–2 common math assessment because it didn’t align with curriculum and to focus on required DIBELS reading screening; Amplify’s acquisition of Math Annex offers a possible revised platform for grades 3–6 and the district will pilot Smarter Balanced interim assessments for key secondary courses this spring.
Petaluma City School District officials told trustees they will pause a planned expansion of K–2 common math assessments and instead focus district resources this year on implementing the state‑required DIBELS reading screener. The board heard that Math Annex — the district’s earlier choice for K–6 assessment work — was acquired by Amplify, which has repackaged the tool in a platform the district expects to review with teachers.
Superintendent/Lead (speaker identified in the meeting as Gloria) summarized feedback from kindergarten–second‑grade teachers who found the piloted assessment time‑intensive and misaligned with report card standards. She said the district found the math tool valuable for eliciting student thinking but that “the assessment was not aligned with the curriculum or with their report cards,” and that logistical burdens (one‑to‑one administration and multiple sub days) also factored into the pause.
Trustees pressed for urgency, noting persistent achievement gaps for English learners, students with disabilities and socioeconomically disadvantaged students. District staff emphasized the link between literacy and math performance and said strong DIBELS implementation could support gains across subjects. The district plans to pilot a revised K–2 approach in spring and resume broader rollout in 2026–27 if pilot results support that timing.
For grades 3–6 and secondary math, staff said Amplify has updated Math Annex and will present the product to the math committee; Amplify reportedly offered access for a trial period free of charge this year. Separately, the Secondary Math Committee recommended using Smarter Balanced interim assessment blocks (IABs and FIABs) this spring for Math 7, Math 8 and Math 1 to allow teachers to run smaller common formative assessments and analyze results at scheduled PD days.
The board and staff said they will use both pilots and vendor demos to determine whether to adopt vendor tools or continue to develop district‑owned assessments. Next procedural steps: math committees will refine essential standards and run the Smarter Balanced interim blocks this spring, with data‑analysis sessions planned for March and subsequent committee meetings through May.
