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Pocahontas Area schools report ISASP gains, add Pathful software and DCAP goals
Summary
Administrators reported early ISASP scale‑score growth across grades 7–11, described stronger gains in 10th grade and 8th‑grade math, and outlined DCAP updates including a $2,500 classroom grant and planned adoption of Pathful career‑planning software.
District administrators presented early evidence of academic growth and outlined steps to expand career and college readiness across grade levels.
A principal and the district team reported average ISASP (Iowa statewide assessment) scale‑score growth for grades 7–11, with some strong year‑to‑year gains highlighted: 10th grade averaged 37.57 scale‑score points and 8th‑grade math grew about 32.95 points between testing cycles. The district also reported 100% participation in testing this year and noted targeted gains among students with disabilities after strengthening specially designed instruction (SDI) and additional professional development for staff.
At the elementary level, fourth‑grade teacher Gwen Johnson described a $2,500 Daughters of the American Revolution grant that will fund hands‑on materials and cross‑curricular lessons connecting the American Revolution to math and science learning in fourth grade.
A school counselor presenting the district Career and Academic Plan (DCAP) said last year’s DCAP rubric scores left room for improvement; the team is adding goals to increase higher‑level math and English participation, and to raise the percentage of students with IEPs who take college classes or participate in work‑based learning. The district plans to adopt Pathful, a career‑exploration platform, to give students multiple inventories, virtual job‑shadowing and expanded pathway exploration.
Board members pressed for clarity about which college classes count toward DCAP goals and how work‑based learning will be measured. Administrators said college-level courses taught in district classes and work‑based experiences both count for the district’s measurement goals.
District leaders said they will analyze cut‑score reassignments that the state is conducting this summer and expect more granular student‑level proficiency information later.
