Saucon Valley middle school principal outlines data‑driven plan to address dip in 7th‑grade math growth
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Summary
Middle‑school principal Mike Hauser presented item‑level PSSA and MAP analysis showing a pronounced growth dip around grade 7 and proposed targeted curriculum pacing, MTSS refinements and professional development to boost both achievement and growth for economically disadvantaged students.
Middle‑school principal Mike Hauser told the Saucon Valley School Board that while the building shows strong English‑language‑arts growth overall, a persistent pattern in mathematics — particularly a flattening of growth in grade 7 — requires targeted action.
Hauser described an item‑level analysis of three years of PSSA results and local MAP diagnostics that identified weaknesses in nonfiction/text‑dependent analysis for ELA and in geometry and proportional reasoning for math. "The jump from grade 6 to grade 7 is the highest cognitive leap we encounter," Hauser said, arguing that prerequisite gaps compound and make the seventh‑grade transition especially difficult for some students.
The principal proposed a three‑part strategy: (1) refine curriculum pacing and ensure every standard receives appropriate instructional time; (2) strengthen MTSS interventions and targeted remediation/enrichment; and (3) expand faculty data literacy and professional development so teachers can use item‑level evidence to adapt instruction. He singled out economically disadvantaged students as needing deliberate vocabulary and engagement supports, noting that the subgroup scored roughly 11 points lower in ELA achievement and about 14 points lower in math on the metrics he presented.
Board members emphasized focusing on local solutions (curriculum, classroom assessment and family outreach) rather than only statewide comparisons. The administration said it will follow up with targeted metrics, local benchmark data and proposed timelines for interventions.
Why this matters: Addressing the grade‑to‑grade growth gap is central to district accountability measures and the board asked for concrete next steps that can be measured at the classroom and department level. Hauser said he will work with building leaders to implement walk‑through tools and targeted PD and report back to the board.
The meeting moved on to routine motions after the Q&A.
