Fort Thomas board approves district improvement plan, continuation-of-learning assurances; district shares STAR growth data

FORT THOMAS, Ky. — Fort Thomas Independent Schools on Monday approved the district's Comprehensive District Improvement Plan for 2025–26 and the district continuation-of-learning assurances that govern nontraditional instruction if needed.

District staff presented the final phase of the CDIP and asked the board to approve goals the district will track over the next five years. Among the targets presented were a proposed combined reading and math indicator increase from 89 to 94 by 2030 and a proposed rise in science, social studies and writing indicators from 75 to 80 over the same period. A separate, one-year goal cited in the plan seeks to raise the graduation cohort rate from 98.4% to 99%.

Alongside the plan, staff asked the board to approve continuation-of-learning assurances designed to ensure the district can move to nontraditional instruction (NTI) if unforeseen circumstances require it. Presenters described the plan as a set of assurances and operational readiness items — technology, communications and instructional resources — to sustain instruction off-site if necessary. The board approved both items by voice vote.

District staff also presented the 2025 spring STAR assessment data and the district professional development plan. The spring STAR snapshot highlighted that 91% of Highlands High School ninth-graders assessed demonstrated proficiency or better in reading, and that each elementary school scored above the 90th percentile on the district's cited measures. Staff emphasized Student Growth Percentile (SGP) data: in the elementary grades roughly three-quarters of students posted SGPs at or above the 35th percentile, which STAR defines as roughly a year's worth of expected growth.

The administration said the professional development plan will move away from a one-size-fits-all model and toward cadres and sustained learning aligned to school goals; signups for summer workshops will close next Friday. The board approved the CDIP, continuation-of-learning plan, and related assurances during the meeting.