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Board approves combined monitoring reports on early reading and ELA growth; staff pilots 'Fluency Plus'
Summary
Trustees approved combined monitoring reports for Interim Goals 1C and 2A, noting mixed i‑Ready results and pilots to strengthen fluency and grade‑level text engagement. Staff described 'Fluency Plus' (grades 3–5) and plans for MTSS cycles and Expanded Learning Opportunities to support students.
The Long Beach Unified School District board voted unanimously to approve combined monitoring reports for Interim Goals 1C (early reading diagnostics) and 2A (ELA growth for students previously scoring 'not met'). Staff said i‑Ready diagnostic results were mixed and described a pilot called Fluency Plus that shifts fluency instruction to emphasize comprehension and close reading alongside decoding.
District leaders said i‑Ready figure(s) showed a 1% decrease overall on the diagnostic for grades 1–3, with grade‑level rates at diagnostic three of roughly 50% (grade 1), 53% (grade 2) and 61% (grade 3). Staff noted the grade‑3 rate reflects longer exposure to a structured reading program and pledged more targeted interventions for students who previously scored "not met."
Mr. Zaid presented Fluency Plus, a pilot for grades 3–5 that pairs oral fluency practice with short text analysis: students read grade‑level anthology passages, unpack sentence structure and vocabulary, and answer comprehension prompts to build meaning alongside accuracy, pacing and expression. Staff framed the program with Scarborough's Rope to show how fluency plus comprehension support language structures and background knowledge.
District examples and classroom visits were cited to show classroom uptake. Staff said Fluency Plus and other practices emerged in response to teacher feedback that traditional fluency measures focused too heavily on words‑per‑minute at the expense of comprehension. The district also described supports for teachers and principals, including walkthroughs, coaching, and planned MTSS cycles to provide intensive three‑week interventions where data indicate immediate need.
President Craighead called for the motion; the board approved the combined monitoring reports for Interim Goals 1C and 2A by a 5–0 vote. Staff said they will continue piloting Fluency Plus, validate positive outlier data, and return with additional data and recommendations for reading interventions.
