Superintendent presents MCAS results; committee approves district goals focused on acceleration and equity

Superintendent Jason DeFalco presented the district’s spring 2021 MCAS results and proposed district goals intended to accelerate learning and address equity gaps. DeFalco said the tests were administered for instructional purposes and that participation was high: “We had over 95% participation,” he told the committee, noting remote students and families largely took the assessments.

DeFalco walked through highlights and concerns: gains in third‑grade and some fourth‑grade English language arts, a strong increase in students exceeding expectations in grade 10 ELA, but widespread weakness in mathematics and a pronounced drop for the cohort now in seventh grade. He described the data as diagnostic and said the district has already used summer programming, additional interventionists and targeted supports to begin closing gaps. “We’re not gonna panic, we’re just gonna be prepared,” DeFalco said, framing the goals as a roadmap for accelerated instruction and response‑to‑intervention work.

The superintendent outlined specific targets, including a district aim to increase meeting‑and‑exceeding percentages in ELA, math and science by about 10% and to return to the 50th percentile of growth. He emphasized focus on students with special needs and economically disadvantaged students, saying both subgroups suffered disproportionate learning loss during the pandemic.

Committee members asked questions about grade‑level anomalies and the relationship between recovery strategies and daily classroom instruction. DeFalco noted principals and instructional coaches will present school improvement plans at the next meeting to show how the goals translate into classroom practice.

After discussion, a member moved to approve the district goals as presented; the motion passed by voice vote. DeFalco said he will distribute a short video for families summarizing the goals and next steps and post materials on the district website.