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District says elementary teachers showing progress in implementing new math curriculum; leaders report pockets of strong practice
Summary
Math leaders told the board that year‑two implementation of the district's illustrative elementary math curriculum shows improvement in targeted instructional practices (questioning, consolidation/synthesis) with some measures moving from about 17% to roughly 50% observed; coaches plan expanded site‑based data collection and continued PD.
Nika, a district math leader, and Jeff, an instructional coach, updated the Shakopee Public School District board on April 27 about year‑two implementation of the adopted illustrative elementary math curriculum.
Nika summarized the district's goals: promote productive struggle, mathematical reasoning and discourse, and align instruction to the new state standards that will be fully implemented and tested in coming years. She said the district identified a set of critical instructional practices to focus coaching and observations. Jeff described the professional development and walkthroughs: coaches conducted observations across 107 classrooms, used videos of teachers synthesizing lessons for staff reflection, and created a rubric with teacher leaders to guide PLC discussions.
Presenters reported measured gains in certain practices: items that had been at about 17% increased to roughly 50% in year two, while developmental design practices showed higher observed rates (in the 90s on some measures). They cautioned that an "implementation dip" in student outcome data can occur when new curriculum is introduced and pointed to ongoing MCA testing and upcoming FastBridge checks as measures the district will use to monitor student outcomes.
Board members asked about consistency across buildings and how new teachers will be onboarded; Nika and Jeff said they plan targeted coaching early in the school year and to broaden site‑based data collection next year because two coaches cannot visit every room routinely.
What happens next: the math team will hold its last articulation meeting of the year, expand PD and data collection plans, and report back to the board on progress.
