Staff member outlines new state accountability system, flags calculation uncertainty

A staff member (Speaker 6) delivered a detailed briefing on the state’s new accountability framework for K–12 schools and the district’s preparations. The presenter told the board that the new system pairs academic mastery with student success indicators (SSIs), which include attendance, growth measures, passing the iRead/iLearn tests, work-based learning hours and credits earned; SSIs can add substantial percentage points to a student’s score. "Attendance is going to be a priority," the staff member said, adding that SSIs "could increase the student's grade by 10 percentage points." The presenter also cautioned that the state’s calculations are run by an external company and that "the DOE can't tell us how it works," which creates uncertainty for district planners.

The briefing covered grade-band specifics (iRead emphasis in K–3, growth and proficiency measures in grades 4–8, credit and SSI pathways in high school) and described changes the district has already made (career planning in grade 7, expanded focus on science and social studies). Board members asked who is responsible for uploading student-level data; the staff member said the district stores data in PowerSchool and that Jordan (a staff member) handles attendance uploads, but noted the new system's individual-student focus will require more frequent uploads and coordination. The staff member recommended continued monitoring and said the district hopes to receive an initial year-0 grade in October–November to see where it stands.