District reports preliminary iRead results: 75% pass rate for 2nd grade, 93% for 3rd grade

A district leader presented preliminary spring 2026 iRead results to the School Town of Speedway board on July 14, reporting that 75% of second graders and 93% of third graders met the iRead standard.

The presenter said the 3rd-grade total pass percentage was 93, leaving nine of 129 third-graders who did not pass after multiple attempts; eight of those nine had exemptions (special education or English-learner status), and one student to be retained had enrolled in the district in the spring. The presenter noted the numbers are preliminary and official results will be released next month.

Board members questioned how curriculum and instruction are shifting in response to assessment requirements. One trustee asked whether third-grade teachers are now able to "go deeper" rather than "teaching to the test." The presenter said improved phonics and phonemic-awareness instruction at K-2 has reduced the number of students entering 3rd grade who require remediation, allowing 3rd-grade teachers to emphasize comprehension and vocabulary.

The district also described after-school tutoring supports and targeted small-group instruction for students who did not meet the standard. The presenter referenced work by instructional coaches and said staff had considered several formative-assessment tools (iReady and Forefront) and previously used NWEA in some grades; this year the district removed NWEA references for certain grades and is using iReady in K-2.

The board did not take action on the iRead presentation; staff said official statewide data will be released next month.