Richland 02 outlines CSI and ATSI supports, including poverty-focused plan for Dent Middle School

Richland 02 on April 29 told its academics committee that the district is moving from diagnosis to sustained support for schools on federal and state improvement lists.

Dr. Coleman reviewed designations and recent changes, noting several schools removed from the underperforming list for 2024–25 after approved improvement plans. "In 24–25, we really worked on systems with schools and quite a number of our schools were able to come off of the underperforming list," she said, and confirmed the district has plans posted on school sites and regular continuous-improvement meetings with principals.

Jackson Creek is designated Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI), a three-year federal designation for the lowest 5% of Title I schools. Dr. Coleman said the district's CSI plan was approved by the Department of Education, funds are about to be released and the state will provide a full‑time transformation coach for three years.

The committee also discussed Additional Targeted Support and Improvement (ATSI) designations under the state ESSA plan: this cycle identified 14 schools with 15 ATSI designations, many tied to special education subgroups. Miss Mclofflin and other staff framed the pattern as a system-level special-education issue rather than isolated school problems and described actions to improve compliance (IEP alignment), instructional access and tiered coaching.

Staff outlined a poverty-focused ATSI plan for Dent Middle School that includes a district-level approach and a partnership with the Francis Marion Institute to train teachers on strategies for students living in poverty, small-group and high-dosage tutoring, curriculum-aligned writing supports (StudySync), and increased coaching. "Part of that is the district plan so we do not end up with lots of ATSI designations on individual schools," Dr. Coleman said.

Trustees and staff debated instructional practice, with some members warning against over-reliance on technology programs and urging more direct teacher-student interaction and model classrooms to spread best practice. District leaders said the instructional model prioritizes high-quality teacher interaction, small groups and productive struggle.

Why it matters: Jackson Creek’s CSI designation triggers multi-year state supports and dedicated funding; the ATSI pattern focused on special education raises districtwide compliance and instructional questions that affect multiple schools and students. The committee approved next steps including hiring an ATSI specialist with district ATSI funds, aligning specialists and coaches across departments, and returning on May 22 to discuss coaching structures.

The committee adjourned after approving the agenda and minutes earlier in the meeting; there were no votes recorded on CSI/ATSI plans during this session.