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River Falls highlights elementary reading growth and adopts Amplify Desmos math curriculum
Summary
District leaders reported spring benchmarking showing most grade levels within 90% of proficiency or growth targets under the "WIG" reading goal; the board also approved adopting Amplify Desmos for math and committed to monitoring implementation.
District leaders told the River Falls School District board that spring benchmarking shows progress toward the elementary "wildly important goal" (WIG) of proficiency or yearly growth in foundational reading skills.
Kate Scavlin, Greenwood principal, and other elementary leaders described training and data systems used this year: the district required K–3 staff to take a top-10 tools reading training, paraprofessionals and certified staff heard a presentation on dyslexia from the Minnesota Reading Center, and the district added grades 4 and 5 to AIMSweb benchmark testing. The district also introduced the NextPath data warehouse to streamline Act 20 reporting and to help teachers identify students who need reading plans.
District staff said most grade levels ended the year within roughly 90% of students proficient or exceeding growth goals; second grade was the lowest-performing grade, but nine second-graders who were previously not proficient exceeded yearly growth, a development district leaders called a meaningful success.
On curriculum, the board adopted a new math resource, Amplify Desmos (ADM). Board members and teachers described a phased approach: adopt, implement and monitor with clear lead measures and teacher reporting. The board stressed that adoption is only the first step and committed to tracking results during PLCs and building leadership meetings.
Why it matters: The reading WIG and the math-adoption decision are central to instruction and assessment strategies the district will use to measure progress next year. Leaders said implementation and cross-grade alignment—especially how elementary proficiency carries into middle school—will be priorities going forward.
Quotes: "We have really great responsible fifth graders who are stepping up to help us with it," a principal said of the safety-patrol program, and a board member praised the consistent focus on growth: "That's why I like the 100% goal." The board directed staff to continue training and to use summer work to prebuild systems in NextPath.
