Like all school districts, ICSD is still reeling from the severe impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Due to low test scores in five schools, especially among economically disadvantaged and Black students, New York State has identified ICSD as “in need of improvement.” In response, ICSD has developed school-specific improvement plans using state grant funding. Thanks to these action plans and additional funding support, ICSD is already beginning to see positive improvements.
Test scores across all three core subjects have improved in recent years, with English Language Arts (ELA) and math proficiency rates now at or above pre-pandemic levels (see graph). Thanks to a standardized phonics-centered curriculum and targeted interventions, ICSD has reached their highest ELA proficiency rate in over ten years. Because such progress is being made in ELA instruction, ICSD will continue its current ELA programs and focus on developing better strategies for math instruction.
For example, with the help of state improvement grants, ICSD is now launching a one-on-one tutoring program focused on math intervention. The tutoring, a partnership with Litera, serves roughly twenty-five students per identified school. Every eight weeks, the district will monitor progress and make adjustments as needed.
ICSD had also identified lead teachers in each elementary school to serve as math strategists, helping teachers implement the new Eureka Math Curriculum. On math release days, math teachers throughout the district have an opportunity to discuss and learn from each other, in addition to more extensive professional development. In each middle school, ICSD has appointed a data strategist to lead collaborative, data-driven inquiry cycles.
School-specific improvement plans can be found in more depth on the ICSD website under “Accountability Metrics” or by scanning the QR code below. Updates on the implementation of these action plans can be found monthly in the ICSD e-Insider and at Board of Education Curriculum Committee meetings.