St. Francis Area Schools board approves 2025-26 academic and readiness goals

The St. Francis Area Schools Board of Education voted unanimously to approve the district's 2025-26 Comprehensive Achievement and Career Readiness goals after a presentation summarizing district assessment results and planned interventions. The goals set aggressive, multi-year targets for preschool phonological awareness, third-grade reading proficiency, narrowing the achievement gap for students with IEPs, ninth- and tenth-grade reading, and a locally reported graduation-rate increase.

Superintendent (presenting) said preschool met its target using the specified measurement scale and attributed some reading gains to recent LETRS professional development and new curricula at elementary levels. The presentation used locally recorded graduation rates (not yet published on the state report card), which the presenter noted can differ from Minnesota Department of Education figures because of differing cohort calculations.

Board members questioned the district's role in closing larger statewide achievement gaps and discussed keeping reading goals on the district's work plan even though the state has changed some reporting requirements. One board member said keeping the goal in local materials "will show the people of the community that Saint Francis Area Schools values reading no matter what grade level you are."

During the motion to approve the work-plan goals, a board member seconded the motion; the chair called for voice approval and announced the motion prevailed unanimously. The transcript records the second and the unanimous passage but does not identify the formal mover in the spoken record. The board did not take additional separate votes on the individual sub-goals during the meeting.

Next steps noted by administration include posting updated goals and supporting data on the district website and continuing the district's work on interventions such as targeted small-group instruction, PBIS supports and ongoing LETRS-aligned literacy work.

Meeting minutes and posted materials will reflect the board's approval; the district said final state-reported graduation figures will be available in the spring when MDE releases the report card.