Get AI Briefings, Transcripts & Alerts on Local & National Government Meetings — Forever.
District to pilot AIMSweb Plus, expand phonics instruction and consider K–5 trimesters
Loading...
Summary
Assistant superintendent reported the district will onboard AIMSweb Plus as a secondary screener, expand UFLI Word Origins phonics into grades 3–5, and pilot a move from quarters to trimesters for K–5 with kindergarten and second grade serving as pilots.
The district’s assistant superintendent reported several curriculum changes and an instructional pilot intended to improve screening and phonics instruction for early grades.
Assistant Superintendent (S1) told the board the district is shifting screening tools and programs: “We’ve gone with IXL. We’ve moved away from I Ready. That’s the universal screener that we do 3 times a year. We’re moving away from Star Renaissance and onboarding AIMSweb plus,” the assistant superintendent said, adding AIMSweb Plus will be used as a secondary screener for students who may need Tier 2 or Tier 3 interventions.
S1 also described plans to expand the UFLI Word Origins phonics component into grades 3–5 so phonics instruction extends beyond K–2. Staff training dates were announced (all‑day training Aug. 11 and a three‑hour virtual training Aug. 12).
On grading periods, board discussion focused on a proposal to move K–5 from quarters to trimesters. The assistant superintendent and curriculum committee said the change aims to give teachers and families more consistent progress windows and to reduce premature judgments tied to short nine‑week quarters. Pilot implementation will start with kindergarten and second grade; if the pilot proceeds smoothly, the district could implement trimesters K–5 in the 2027–28 school year.
Board members asked about teacher and parent feedback; S1 said parent focus groups and staff surveys were generally positive, and the district plans more engagement and a FAQ for families ahead of any formal vote.
