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Board hears 2023–24 testing report; district sees mixed trends in M‑Step and SAT/PSAT
Summary
Assistant Superintendent Mike Giromini and Director Andrew Comb told the board that ELA proficiency improved in key grades, while math showed declines tied in part to the first year of digital PSAT/SAT; the district will use building-level meetings, revised K‑4 literacy and MTSS adjustments to respond.
District leaders presented Spring 2024 assessment results and a summary of trends to the Board on Sept. 19, flagging improvements in some grade bands and declines in others.
Assistant Superintendent of Teaching and Learning Mike Giromini and Director of Curriculum and Assessment Andrew Comb led the presentation, which covered i‑Ready, M‑Step, PSAT and SAT results. The report noted a continuing positive ELA trend for 8th‑grade PSAT and 11th‑grade SAT, while math scores — particularly PSAT and SAT math in the first year of the digital tests — showed a sharp decline. The presentation also flagged drops in 5th‑grade M‑Step science and social studies.
Comb and Giromini described immediate district responses: sharing building‑level reports with principals, expanded K‑4 MTSS processes, a new K‑4 literacy curriculum and cycles to review K‑12 curriculum. "This team worked really hard to get feedback from the teachers and then incorporate it into the design," Giromini said of professional development preparation.
Board members were told staff will continue targeted interventions and monitor cohorts; principals will meet with the assistant superintendent about building data and response plans. Administrators emphasized that small subgroup sample sizes can skew results, and that multiple data sources are used for decisions.
The board did not take formal action on testing items at the meeting but heard the report as part of the regular "Reports to the Board" agenda item and will continue oversight through committee meetings and upcoming building-level reporting.
