Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Literacy topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
East Windsor district says multi-year literacy plan is in place and reports measurable gains
Summary
District staff updated the board on a multi-year literacy plan with six recommendations—literacy blocks, assessments, phonics, interventions, curriculum adoption and a local literacy team—and said midyear assessment results and attendance have improved compared with four years ago.
Daryl, the district presenter on literacy, told the East Windsor School District Board of Education the district has implemented a six-part, multi‑year literacy plan that includes a daily literacy block, enhanced assessment protocols, phonics instruction, tiered interventions, adoption of a common curriculum resource across grades and a transition from outside consultants to an internal literacy team.
The presentation summarized work dating from an earlier review by an outside consultant and listed completed and in‑progress items: literacy blocks at elementary grades, a three‑times‑a‑year assessment calendar (including I‑Ready diagnostics), intervention forms used at data meetings, and professional development tied to the science‑of‑reading trainings the district attended. Staff said the district is working to consolidate data in an MTSS platform to make student information accessible to teachers in one place.
Asked how current results compare with prior years, the presenter described district goals and recent midyear assessment improvements. "One of the goals I had for ESAC results this year was to be at or over 50% for our students," the presenter said, and added that four years ago comparable midyear rates were in the 30% range. The presenter also said math scores have roughly doubled over the last four years and that chronic absenteeism has improved—comments that board members requested backup data to review in the packet.
Board members asked about the inclusion of the high school in rollouts and how the literacy team will be staffed. Staff said the elementary and middle schools have had more years of training and that the high school is beginning implementation; literacy coaches are assigned in each building and will participate on the literacy team that will develop in‑house professional development.
The district noted that curriculum choices prioritized resources that support English‑language learners and that the adopted materials extend into high school grades, while acknowledging some specialized senior‑level courses will use different materials. Board members emphasized the need for concise talking points and shared data to communicate progress at community events.
The board did not take formal action on the literacy presentation at the meeting; staff offered to provide the supporting documents and data in the packet for members to review further.
