Upper Dublin reports midyear I‑Ready gains; plans middle‑school pilot

Miss Puce presented an update on I‑Ready, the district’s new K–5 diagnostic assessment, outlining fall and winter benchmark windows, teacher leader professional development and how the diagnostic data are being used in grade‑level data meetings.

She said the district looks at two growth measures: typical growth (the expected national‑normed progress) and stretch growth (a higher target for accelerated progress). At midyear, the district’s median progress toward annual typical growth for reading was 97% (the district target for midyear is 50%); for math median progress toward typical growth was 71%. Miss Puce noted the district expected continued gains by year end and explained teacher reports that many students had been placed on individualized pathways and that staff and instructional coaches were using the I‑Ready teacher toolkit to plan small‑group lessons.

Because of promising elementary results, staff proposed piloting I‑Ready Pro for grades 6–8 and a limited high‑school math pilot; educators at Sandy Run and the high school began pilots and will provide feedback for a May recommendation. Miss Puce told the committee that the district is evaluating logistics for administration windows, teacher time for pathways (30–40 minutes per week recommended) and the possibility of parent reports next year after a full year of implementation.

Board members asked about how students experience the adaptive assessment, how long it takes (typical estimates 40–45 minutes per subject, chunked into smaller sessions), and how results will be shared with families. Miss Puce said staff plan to use spring conferences and parent reports next year after building familiarity with the tool.

No formal vote was taken; staff said they will return with pilot feedback and a possible implementation recommendation for 2026–27.