21-05-2025
SPS Board approves English Language screener for next school year
The Stillwater Public Schools Board of Education approved a contract for another year of an online English Language screener for English Language students in the district.
The Board voted to approve Flashlight360 – an online English Language screener and pathway it used last year in the district – for another at its May 13 meeting.
For the 2024-25 academic school year, students' speaking and writing scores from the beginning to end-of-year benchmarks had increased an average of plus-0.8 points for each category.
'These increases moved our overall district performance level scores from emerging to expanding,' according to Board agenda documents. 'The students' pathway scores increased by an average +0.6 points from September to March in speaking, and by an average +1.4 points in writing.'
The district will provide exact comprehension and English communication scores to the Board when they are released in June.
The district has used Flashlight360 with its English Language student population 'to provide instructional support and data on students' reading, writing and speaking ability during their English acquisition,' according to Board documents.
The program mirrors the state-required English proficiency assessment, allowing staff members 'to collect data and provide additional instructional support to students throughout the school year as they prepare for the ACCESS (Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State-to-State for English Language Learners) assessment in the spring.'
The screener, pathways and professional development for teachers will be funded by the district's Title III EL allocation, which will cost $13,875.
The district provides newcomer programming, EL prevention programming and EL consultation support for students.
Free classes are also held at Meridian Technology Center at 312 S. Sangre Road, which aim to strengthen students' listening, speaking, reading and writing skillls. The ESL classes are funded by state and federal funds through the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education.
The schedule for classes at Meridian are from 5:30-8:30 p.m. Tuesdays (Beginner), 8:30-10:30 a.m. Fridays (Intermediate) and 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Fridays (Advanced).
