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Parents and teachers clash over state test results and the role of IReady
Summary
Several parents raised alarm about low ELA proficiency percentages at South Toms River elementary school and criticized the district's use of IReady; teachers and district staff defended teachers' work and said IReady is an assessment tool used alongside other supports.
Public commenters spent an extended portion of the meeting criticizing published state assessment results for South Toms River elementary grades and urging the board to re-evaluate classroom programs. Krista Whitaker told the board that published 3rd-grade ELA results showed 15.2% proficiency (46 students tested) and said that IReady is an "enrichment" program and not a replacement for instruction: "46 kids tested, that means 7 of them know how to read," she said.
Teachers and district staff replied that state assessments measure a snapshot of standards mastery and that the district uses multiple assessment tools and interventions. Teacher Robin Goodzak said staff had initially resisted IReady but now use its data along with other resources to identify gaps and design instruction: "Maybe we all don't love it, but it is giving us numbers to help move our kids forward," she said. The superintendent and other administrators described a data dive by staff showing growth at schools and urged parents to meet with staff for specific supports.
