Accountability committee reviews three‑tier measurement framework, 2031 targets for literacy, attendance and 'future‑ready' milestones

The Savannah‑Chatham County Accountability Committee on Wednesday reviewed a new strategic plan measurement framework and heard district officials lay out ambitious targets for student outcomes through 2031.

"If our accountability committee is to be effective, our attention must always be centered on the close alignment of our board governance with the district strategic plan," the committee chair said in opening remarks, framing the meeting around clear, data‑driven oversight.

The superintendent and senior staff described a three‑tier measurement model that will guide monitoring and public reporting. Miss Taylor told the committee that Tier 1 will present public‑facing student outcome goals, Tier 2 will track progress indicators on a monthly cadence to enable real‑time adjustments, and Tier 3 will contain internal performance measures for departments and project teams.

Dr. May presented the plan's numeric targets and how the district will track progress. "By 2031, 90 percent of students in grades kindergarten through second grade will demonstrate strong foundational literacy skills as measured by Amira," Dr. May said, outlining Goal 1 and the use of Amira Reading Mastery (ARM) scores and growth expectations. Goal 2 sets a 2031 target of 95 percent of third graders meeting the Georgia Milestones reading benchmark, with growth‑rate expectations used to monitor interim progress. Goal 3 aims for a districtwide 70 weighted content mastery score in ELA and mathematics using projected GMAS results derived from NWEA MAP data.

Attendance and school climate goals were also highlighted. Dr. May said Goal 4 aims for 90 percent of K–12 students to be absent fewer than 10 percent of enrolled days by 2031, monitored monthly via PowerSchool. Goal 5 targets 90 percent positive student belonging and engagement measured by local surveys and an inverse weighted suspension rate; staff cautioned that using suspension rates as a metric requires careful communication and safeguards so schools are not discouraged from reporting disciplinary incidents.

"We do not want a school not suspending students for a good number for us to hold up to the community," one senior official said, urging the committee to avoid perverse incentives when designing public dashboards.

Goal 6 focuses on post‑graduation readiness: by 2031, 90 percent of graduates should complete at least one 'future‑ready' milestone such as work‑based learning, dual enrollment, an apprenticeship or similar experiences. District staff described plans to track on‑track milestone status and verify annual graduate completion rates.

Committee members pressed staff on measuring outcomes for cohorts that are not yet in district classrooms — for example, three‑year‑olds — and discussed piloting studies with existing early‑childhood partners such as Acorn Academy and Moonshot community efforts to follow children as they enter pre‑K and kindergarten. Members and staff also discussed parent communications, including ways to explain Lexile/ARM scores in family‑friendly formats and to increase student goal visibility in classrooms.

Miss Taylor told the committee the district plans to present the final strategic plan to the full board for adoption at the June board meeting and described a multi‑pronged public rollout — targeted meetings, town halls, a 'roadshow' to community groups and online sessions — to build awareness and buy‑in.

The committee did not take formal votes on the plan at the meeting; staff were asked to return with monitoring details, communications materials for parents, and proposed rollout dates. The committee discussed meeting again in July or August to continue oversight work.

The meeting transcript records multiple suggestions for piloting early‑childhood tracking, bolstering partnerships with health and reading‑support partners, and refining alternative programs to provide wraparound services rather than punitive placements. Those items were discussed as implementation priorities rather than final policy decisions.