Eatonville schools report SBA gains, set 93% attendance target

Presenter S2 reviewed the Eatonville School District's recent assessment results and attendance plans, reporting growth on SBA and I‑Ready measures while urging clearer communication about excused absences.

The presenter said 73.5% of students scored a 2, 3 or 4 on the SBA this year, and 49.7% met the district's definition of meeting standard (scores of 3 or 4). "We beat the state standard for all of those, but just in threes and fours we were a little bit under the state standard," the presenter said, adding that the district has exceeded the state average over the last two years in several measures.

The presenter also described subgroup progress: students with disabilities showed growth on I‑Ready and some SBA measures, and the district hopes that improvement will allow it to exit state priority status. "That is how we earned a priority status…our students with disabilities were not making adequate progress over a three‑year time frame," the presenter said, noting recent gains in ELA meeting‑standard rates.

On attendance, the presenter said the district's target is 93% but reported a current rate through February of about 91.4% (last year was about 91.54%). The presenter described multiple drivers of absenteeism — illness, family choices and tardies — and said an attendance team meets regularly to review students with high absence counts. Board members asked whether the district can define which reasons should be counted as excused and how to communicate that clearly to families.

A parent (S5) asked whether the jump in fifth‑grade science scores came from a new curriculum; the presenter credited intentional weekly instruction and a new fifth‑grade teacher, saying in part, "Mystery Science is amazing. Kids are very engaged with Mystery Science." A committee member asked whether grading and reporting practices accurately reflect student mastery and whether incentives could increase attendance; the presenter said teachers use varied assessment methods and agreed to work on clearer policy language and messaging.

Chair S1 asked Cassie to put attendance‑policy clarification (acceptable excused‑absence categories) on a future agenda so families and principals have consistent guidance. The district plans to follow up with the board on that agenda item and on continued monitoring of SBA and I‑Ready trends.

Next steps: staff will refine recommended excused‑absence categories for board review and continue to report disaggregated assessment results and attendance trends.