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Board hears winter reading gains; district keeps SBAC goal in sight
Summary
School leaders told the board that winter diagnostics show rising reading achievement — 51% of K–5 students reached the "high growth, high achievement" quadrant and 66% of third-graders are at or above grade level — and framed those results against a district SBAC target for 2027.
At the Feb. 4 Phoenix-Talent SD 4 board meeting, OHES Principal Kent Vallier presented winter iReady reading results and said they are an encouraging early indicator for state testing this spring. "51% of our K-5 students scored in the 'high growth, high achievement' quadrant," Vallier reported, and he added that "66% of our 3rd graders are at or above third grade reading level."
Vallier noted the district's strategic goal for third-grade reading — that 45% of third-graders meet or exceed SBAC by 2027 — and told the board that current benchmark results should predict stronger SBAC performance. He credited staff work, singling out Jenn Dotson for supporting a classroom that reached a 75% benchmark rate.
District and school leaders said family engagement events will accompany instructional efforts: PES will host a Love of Learning Family Night on Feb. 12 to share report cards and strategies families can use at home. Superintendent Brent Barry placed the local results in the budget and planning context, saying the district is focusing on preserving programs through attrition and targeted trimming rather than layoffs as state revenue forecasts are revised.
The report gives the board a baseline heading into SBAC season; district staff said they will continue reporting disaggregated results and anticipated next steps in spring updates.
