Lakeland presents quarter‑2 academic data; district highlights writing PD, interventions and ACT gains

Deputy Superintendent Ange Goloso told the Lakeland School Board that targeted professional development on writing and expanded intervention staffing are producing measurable gains while the district monitors benchmark and ACT outcomes.

Goloso said district staff found higher overall English language arts proficiency but lower scores on the writing component: "we saw that around 70 percent ... were proficient in English language arts. But those same students ... about 60% were proficient in the writing area." She described anchor‑paper professional development and the use of TCAP scoring rubrics to align instruction and assessment across grade levels.

The presentation highlighted intervention staffing and movement between tiers: "We have 2 intervention teachers at Lakeland Elementary, and we have 3 at Lakeland Preparatory School," Goloso said, and she noted students moving from tier 3 and tier 2 interventions back into tier 1 general education as universal screener results improved from fall to winter.

Goloso outlined work in middle‑school ELA and math to strengthen vertical alignment, and she described a new K–12 science curriculum and course sequencing changes intended to better prepare students for high‑school biology. On the high‑school assessment front, she reported: "We have at least 66 percent of our seniors have scored a 21 or higher," a threshold the district links to the state HOPE scholarship and college‑and‑career readiness.

Board members asked questions about incoming kindergarten preparedness and the rationale for phasing out eighth‑grade physical science; Goloso said kindergarten screeners show more students with lower initial exposure to preacademic tasks and that the new science sequence spreads standards across grades to build stronger readiness for biology.

The board voted to approve the agenda and consent items earlier in the special call meeting and commended staff for the instructional work. The district expects to report additional benchmark results in the coming week and will continue monitoring progress as the year proceeds.