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Board approves 2026–27 assessment plan, emphasizing I‑Ready and district data platform
Summary
The Webster Groves board approved the district's 2026–27 academic assessment plan, moving to I‑Ready benchmarks (year two) and EduCLIMBER for district data; Fountas & Pinnell will be targeted for students with reading plans while early-childhood GOLD assessment review continues.
The Webster Groves School District board approved the district's academic assessment plan for the 2026–27 school year after a presentation explaining key changes and a brief question-and-answer period.
Tim Brown, introduced as the district's director of student assessment, data and learning technologies, summarized highlights: the district is in year two of full I‑Ready implementation (math K–8 and ELA K–10) after moving away from NWEA; EduCLIMBER will be used districtwide as a data warehouse; the Fountas & Pinnell guided-reading (F&P) assessments will be used selectively for students with reading-success plans rather than universally; and the district is reviewing the GOLD assessment for early learners at the Walter Ambrose Family Center.
Brown said the district will continue to publish assessment calendars and an interactive data dashboard on the district website and maintain compliance with DESE requirements by linking to the state APR and report-card data. "We want assessments to be meaningful and impactful," Brown said, adding that staff will use multiple measures rather than a single source.
Board members raised questions about whether sample graphics on a slide represented Webster Groves' data and sought clarity on how the I‑Ready and F&P tools will be used in practice. Brown clarified that sample A–F graphics were illustrative mock-ups, not district ratings, and reiterated the district is monitoring possible state changes to accountability (a proposed A–F rating) and how those might be applied.
After discussion, a board member moved and the board approved the assessment plan by voice vote.
What's next: staff said they will post the detailed plan and interactive dashboard on the district website and provide training for staff on EduCLIMBER and assessment calendar use before fall instruction begins.
