District presents LinkIt benchmark B results; administration urges focus on growth data, not end-of-year performance

Felicia Shatry, the district's director of elementary education, presented the LinkIt benchmark B results on April 26 and explained how the three-form benchmark cycle (Form A in September, Form B in January, Form C in April) provides actionable data for teachers.

Shatry said Form A establishes a baseline, Form B measures interim growth and the district's January results should be understood in that context because "not all standards were touched upon yet" when Form B was administered. She reviewed district-level comparisons (Form A to Form B) and said teachers use class diagnostics and item-analysis reports to identify where students are strong or require re-teaching.

Shatry walked the board through sample class diagnostics and item-analysis tools that allow teachers to view question-level responses, class averages and time-on-task data; she said the platform supports targeted instruction, small-group differentiation and monitoring of interventions. She also noted the benchmark presentation slide deck is posted on the district website and that a subsequent presentation on Form C will share end-of-year growth.

Board members and the interim superintendent discussed how the data inform decisions about pacing guides and targeted supports. Shatry and administration reiterated that the benchmark B data are from January and that the district will report Form C results later in the spring to show full-year growth.