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District adopts multi-vendor data platform strategy and reports positive assessment trends
Summary
District leaders described a multi-vendor approach using Open Architects and Branching Minds to integrate student data and reported upward cohort trends in ELA and math, with PSAT and AP participation rising; comparative statewide data will be available in winter.
Dr. Samson and district data staff told the board the district has adopted a multi-vendor data strategy to support personalized learning and MTSS work, with Open Architects and Branching Minds among the primary tools under implementation.
"We definitely ended up where we didn't expect to be," said Jesse, a district data staffer, describing a multi-stage selection process that prioritized best-in-class tools and the ability to integrate systems rather than a single all-purpose product. The district emphasized integration and customization so building leaders and teachers can access actionable dashboards.
Dr. Samson gave a "balcony-level" overview of spring assessments and enrollment. He reported that 77% of students in grades 3'08 achieved level 3 or 4 on New York State ELA assessments and described positive cohort growth on average scale scores. In math (grades 3—), many cohorts were near or above 80% at levels 3 or 4 and several grades showed strong year-to-year scale-score gains. Dr. Samson cautioned that district staff do not yet have comparative state data and that a deeper, granular analysis will be presented in winter.
The district also reported growth in Advanced Placement participation: roughly 650 students sat for about 1,500 AP exams in May 2024, increasing to about 720 students and 1,800 exams in May 2025. The district plans to administer PSATs to 10th and 11th graders (and 8th graders in spring) to triangulate PSAT, Regents and state-assessment data for actionable insight.
Board members asked about cost implications of a multi-vendor approach and whether the charts track cohorts or cross-sectional grades. The administration said the multi-vendor combination was competitively priced relative to single-vendor options and confirmed the displayed charts track cohort growth; a more detailed, demographically disaggregated presentation is scheduled for a future meeting.
Dr. Samson and staff detailed work to integrate IEP progress-monitoring into the data warehouse and to create an IEP dashboard so interventions tied to special-education goals can be visualized alongside other benchmarks.
