PCIA, MTSS and attendance emerge as top priorities at Mill A retreat

School leaders told the board that PCIA (the district’s innovation high‑school program) has three priority goals this year: ensure every student has an active high‑school‑and‑beyond plan, improve attendance toward the state’s 90% target over multiple years, and fully implement MTSS so students needing extra support are identified and helped.

“100% of our students will have an active and current high school and beyond plan that was created collaboratively with student and staff input,” Kelly said, describing a pilot program used during learning teams to help students plan coursework and post‑secondary pathways.

On attendance, Kelly told the board the 90% annual attendance target is a Washington State initiative and a five‑year stretch goal; she said the district does not expect to hit the target this year but will deploy relationship‑building, weekly monitoring and targeted interventions. A board member noted the practical meaning of 90% attendance (about 18 missed days per 180‑day year) and the district discussed exclusions for students with special circumstances (for example, McKinney‑Vento/Homeless status is handled separately in state reporting).

Board and staff also described instructional changes at PCIA: the district moved to shorter class periods (a seven‑period day) to break large assignments into smaller, more manageable chunks for students with executive‑functioning challenges. Staff reported early signs of improved engagement in some classes but cautioned that cohort sizes and demographic changes make year‑to‑year comparisons difficult in a small district.

Why it matters: MTSS, attendance and high‑school planning are core levers for improving individual student outcomes. For a small district, choices about schedule, curriculum adoption and student supports directly affect classroom practice and the board’s long‑term strategy for growth and stability.

Next steps: Staff will complete midyear data checks and a midyear reflection for the board in March; the district will continue MTSS rollout, weekly attendance monitoring and follow the pilot for high school and beyond planning.