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Onalaska board hears academic gains, attendance improvements under strategic plan
Summary
District staff reported gains in early literacy and attendance, mixed signals between STAR and Forward assessments, and expanded career-technical credentials at the high school; some statewide test results remained embargoed pending parent release.
At its June 22 meeting, the Onalaska School Board received a multi-part report on Pillar One of the district strategic plan that focused on academic achievement, growth, early literacy and student engagement across elementary, middle and high school levels.
Lis (district-level lead on assessment reporting) told the board that some statewide Forward scores remain embargoed until they are mailed to families and therefore could not be discussed publicly. She highlighted district indicators: STAR predicted approximately 66% proficiency in K–8 ELA this year and the district saw a fall in the share of students requiring a personal reading plan (students below the 25th percentile) from 30% to 19% across the district. ‘‘Showing us at 66% proficient on STAR reading this year is very promising,’’ she said, while cautioning about changes in state standard-setting that affect interpretation.
Presenters described work on interventions and growth. Lori reported that tier-three intervention identification and progress monitoring are now consistent; the district is concentrating next on strengthening tier-one and tier-two instruction to align with a new ELA curriculum. The presenters also said STAR and Forward results showed some incongruence since the state adjusted Forward standards, which complicates year-to-year comparisons.
Building-level highlights included elementary decreases in early reading plans and improved attendance; the middle school reported a 91% rate of students with under-10% absences, described as returning to pre-COVID levels; and the high school credited a rise in core-course grades (from 74% first semester to 80% second) to more coordinated counselor–administrator planning. The high school also reported that 91% of students enrolled in AP courses registered for the AP exam and that the graduating class earned 96 industry-recognized credentials this year (up from 25 in 2023 and 12 in 2020), including new credentials in automotive, welding, and computer programming.
Board members asked follow-up questions about data interpretation and a small typo in a table flagged during discussion. Staff said they will present final Forward results and report-card placements when the state releases them and when the district receives the mailed reports to families in the coming weeks.
