Elkhorn school leaders defend I‑Ready rollout as some parents opt out amid data concerns

Elkhorn Area School District officials reported on the second year of I‑Ready use at the June 22 school board meeting, saying the adaptive diagnostic assessment and the platform’s individualized "My Path" lessons have given teachers more actionable growth and achievement data.

“I‑Ready launches with an adaptive diagnostic that identifies student strengths and areas for growth,” presenter Sarah Box said, describing the fall, winter and spring testing cadence and how diagnostic results automatically generate individualized lessons. Staff said K–8 students complete the diagnostic each September, January and May, and that the adaptive design lets higher‑achieving students see more challenging items while struggling students receive items at their instructional level.

District staff said teachers are embedding roughly 30 minutes per week of I‑Ready lessons in reading and in math and that the diagnostic typically requires 40–90 minutes to complete. Administrators told the board winter diagnostic data drives small‑group instruction, intervention decisions, curriculum monitoring and teacher professional development.

Leaders reported strong teacher adoption: survey findings presented to the board showed a high comfort level among elementary staff with I‑Ready tools and reports and many teachers using the platform’s small‑group planning resources. "We have teachers leaning into that toolbox," a presenter said, noting teachers can pull platform lessons directly into rotations to match students’ readiness levels.

Board members were also briefed on concerns raised this year. Staff flagged test‑administration issues such as students using open browsers to locate answers and said the district is tightening browser‑lockdown procedures. A small number of families requested to opt out of diagnostics, and four middle school students declined testing this year. Presenters said some middle school students had written persuasive letters saying they found My Path lessons unengaging and disliked being held for missed minutes.

On privacy, the district told the board it had investigated allegations circulating online about vendors selling student data. "My Path does not sell that," Sarah Box said; presenters said the vendor has reassured the district it is not selling student data and noted a broader, industry‑wide lawsuit naming several education vendors but emphasized the district’s current assurances.

District staff said they will continue to troubleshoot browser security, refine administration protocols and communicate with families that diagnostics are one of several data points used to guide instruction. The board did not take a policy vote on I‑Ready at the meeting; staff said they would continue to report usage and outcomes to the board.