Lincoln County Schools report midyear I‑Ready gains; staff propose early‑release day for data work
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Summary
District instructional staff presented I‑Ready midyear results showing reading proficiency at 36% (17‑point growth since Benchmark 1) and math growth of 14 points; staff asked the board to consider an early‑release day to let teachers analyze data and plan targeted instruction.
Miss Shortridge, who presented the district’s midyear I‑Ready analysis, told the Lincoln County Board of Education on Feb. 3 that the district’s reading proficiency stands at 36% and that figure reflects a 17 percentage‑point increase from the first benchmark to the second. “We had an overall proficiency of 36%. That is a growth of 17% from benchmark 1 to benchmark 2,” Shortridge said.
She said math proficiency is currently 21% and interim growth between benchmarks is 14 percentage points, though the district ended last year’s testing cycle at 27% in math. “We have an overall math growth of 14 from benchmark 1 to this benchmark,” she said, attributing gains to small‑group interventions, targeted coaching and in‑class math intervention work.
Shortridge asked the board to consider a single early‑release day for teachers — proposed for March — so staff can “drill down the 3 weakest standards per classroom,” conduct vertical teaming and use that work before the next professional learning day on March 14. She said the goal is to use benchmark data to identify targeted reteach priorities and to align teachers who do not ordinarily meet for PLCs because of bus schedules and staffing constraints.
Board members responded positively and asked staff to place the early‑release proposal on a future agenda for formal consideration. One member cautioned about the number of instructional days missed for weather and the need to avoid unintended impacts on the academic calendar; staff noted they are also pursuing state approval to increase allowable nontraditional days from five to ten to give the district more flexibility for closures.
The district did not record a board decision on the early‑release request at the Feb. 3 meeting; board members asked staff to return the item for formal action so the board can consider calendar changes in the context of state guidance and any approved waivers.
The board will next meet at 6 p.m. Feb. 17 at the Central Office in Hamlin to consider future agenda items, including the possible early‑release date.