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Ocean View trustees hear flat Smarter Balanced results, spotlight on attendance and English learners
Summary
Assistant Superintendent Dr. Alice Lee told the board that Ocean View students continue to outperform county and state averages but overall scores were largely flat in 2023-24; the board pressed staff on chronic absenteeism (down from 21% to ~12%) and support for English learners.
Assistant Superintendent Alice Lee presented the Ocean View School DistrictSmarter Balanced (CAASPP) results for 2023-24 on Tuesday, saying district scores remain above county and state averages but showed only small year-over-year growth.
Lee told the board that low-income and homeless subgroups performed above broader benchmarks while English learners remain the districtlowest-performing group, prompting trustees to ask for targeted strategies. She also flagged reductions in chronic absenteeism, which the district estimates fell from about 21% in 2022 to roughly 12% in 2024, and reiterated that regular attendance is a focus for improving outcomes.
Trustees questioned instructional alignment and test preparation. Lee said the district will move a third i-Ready benchmark to March to allow "buffer teaching" before the CAASPP and emphasized writing instruction across disciplines to prepare students for performance tasks that require explanation and reasoning. Lee said district leaders see a correlation between i-Ready benchmarks and CAASPP results and are adjusting benchmark timing to better identify gaps earlier.
Board members also pressed staff about testing logistics after a trustee flagged an unusual drop in Mesa View's math results (about an 8-point decrease year-over-year). Members urged reviewing local testing schedules and methods to reduce student fatigue and avoid rushed responses that can depress scores. The clerk and teachers recommended block scheduling during testing windows so students have more uninterrupted time for untimed state assessments.
The board did not take action on assessment policy at the meeting. Staff said they will correct a slide omission for Oak View and incorporate trustee questions into upcoming listening sessions and teacher feedback forums.
What happens next: The district plans listening sessions with teachers and will present measurement and implementation plans for the boardgoals at a future meeting; staff will also follow up on testing-schedule adjustments and refine attendance interventions.
