Board approves two-year i-Ready contract amid trustee concerns about interim-assessment fit

The El Rancho Unified board voted to approve a two-year contract to adopt i-Ready as a district assessment and instructional platform at the June 17 meeting. Trustees and staff spent significant time discussing whether i-Ready should replace existing interim assessments or be used primarily as a diagnostic and classroom tool.

Ed Services staff described pilot work and teacher feedback. The presenter said the contract ‘‘has the capacity’’ to be used as an interim assessment if the district decides to do so, but emphasized that the local decision about whether to replace existing interim assessments rests with the board and administration.

Trustee Arlene Perez, who said she had experience with i-Ready years ago, praised its diagnostic strengths but warned that some districts found the interim-assessment component less well suited to standards-based interim benchmarking. ‘‘They are great at diagnostics,’’ she said. ‘‘But they're not the best at interim assessments.’’ Perez requested that the district contact other districts that have used i-Ready longer-term to learn what worked and what did not before fully replacing interim assessments.

Staff committed to provide professional development and to consult neighboring districts and other users; they also said the contract could be used in combination with other tools rather than as a single mandated interim test. Trustee concerns focused on appropriate teacher training, limiting overuse of assessments, and ensuring results guide instruction rather than generating redundant testing.

The board approved the contract, with trustees noting a plan to reconvene after further outreach and to monitor teacher feedback and student outcomes. The district said it would report back with findings and recommended practices in the coming months.