Division presents midyear literacy and secondary assessment data and 'finish strong' plan

District academic leaders presented a multi‑part achievement update covering early literacy screeners, MAP growth measures and high‑school term/EOC results, and outlined interventions to "finish strong."

Matt Delaney, chief schools officer, and Dr. Lorraine Kelly (elementary) summarized preK–3 VOWLS results showing increases in students in the strong/low‑risk bands (examples cited: kindergarten low‑risk from 51% to 74%; second grade low‑risk from 49% to 69%). The presentation noted 610 kindergarten student reading plans and other counts by grade for targeted interventions. Dr. Kelly explained the first‑year implementation of the fourth‑ and fifth‑grade balanced screener and said the division is monitoring trends as implementation matures.

Secondary director Tom Quinn reviewed term‑1 EOC and high‑school course assessments, noting modest stability or small gains despite rollout of new, more rigorous standards in math and English. ELL students made notable gains on some measures. The division emphasized targeted supports: school support meetings, small‑group instruction, before/after‑school tutoring, AP boot camps and use of local benchmark data to drive instruction.

Board members asked for follow‑up data showing growth across testing windows (fall to midyear) and more granular comparisons by cohort. Leaders said many of those reports exist and offered to supply additional memos and invitations to school support meetings for board members to view implementation in practice. The presentation closed with an operational "finish strong" outline that prioritizes targeted resourcing, interventions, and collaborative professional learning to prepare students for SOLs, APs and industry exams.