15-04-2025
Mixed progress on reading, math proficiency goals for Grand Forks students
Apr. 14—GRAND FORKS — Student test scores showed mixed progress on Grand Forks Public Schools' proficiency goals, according to data shared at a Monday School Board meeting.
According to Renaissance Star test results taken over the winter, three of five selected grade cohorts were meeting proficiency benchmarks in early literacy and reading, as were three of the five grade cohorts measured by mathematics scores.
The district set five-year student performance goals based on the Star assessment during the 2023-24 school year.
"We still have more work to do, but we're pleased with where we're at," Superintendent Terry Brenner said.
Kindergarteners and first-graders met benchmarks for early literacy, while second-graders, and fourth- and fifth-graders met proficiency benchmarks for reading. Third-graders and sixth-, eighth- and 10th-graders fell behind reading targets.
In mathematics, eighth-graders and sixth- and seventh-graders did not meet their benchmarks, but all other groups did.
Administrators were able to shed light on why some groups underperformed.
Associate Superintendent Catherine Gillach pointed out that the district's sixth-, seventh- and eighth-graders were "COVID kids" who had spent some of their first years of school online during the pandemic.
Third-graders weren't, though, Brenner pointed out, adding schools would need to take a closer look at this group to see how to improve their performance.
Low-income, multilingual and special education students posted lower scores than the general population and often did not meet benchmarks, a consistent theme in district assessments. Racial disparities also remained present across all age groups.
None of the district's multilingual 10th-graders met performance benchmarks in math, though Chief Academic Officer Amy Bartsch pointed out that parents can ask for their children to opt out of the Star test.
Brenner told the Herald the increases in multilingual students over the prior school year, many of whom have lived in the U.S. for less than a year, could have also driven down performance for ML students.
Bartsch said the district had hired interventionists and reading specialists to help underperforming students, but noted the district did not have the financial resources to meet all of the needs in Grand Forks' schools.
"There just isn't enough people to provide all the support the data has indicated is necessary," Bartsch said.
Changes at the state and federal level could significantly alter how the district reviews student test scores going forward.
Brenner said it was likely that the Trump administration's efforts to dismantle diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives across the nation's schools would likely preclude the district from breaking down data by race and ethnicity in the future, an outcome he called "very sad for public education."
He told the Herald it could also mean the district could not examine data broken down by multilingual, special education and low-income students, but was waiting to find out how the U.S. Education Department interpreted President Donald Trump's executive orders.
"Most superintendents just have their heads on a swivel right now, and we're waiting for what comes next," Brenner said.
The Renaissance Star tests, which are administered three times a year, are meant to gauge student performance on North Dakota's statewide assessment.
This spring, the state will use a new assessment, the North Dakota Academic Progression of Learning and Understanding of Students, with a new standard for proficiency.
That may mean that Grand Forks will have to adjust its proficiency goals on its Renaissance Star assessments, depending on how students perform on the new assessment and what North Dakota deems proficiency.
"Let's say we take the ND A-PLUS and our kids are 90% proficient. We have to redo the (Renaissance Star) proficiency goals," Bartsch said. "Let's say we take the ND A-PLUS and our kids are 20% proficient. We have to redo the proficiency goals."
In other news,
* Board members voted to waive liquidation fees for a Valley Middle School math teacher who resigned April 4. Robert Waddle resigned effective immediately earlier this month; administrators recommended the fee waiver "due to circumstances and reasons remaining undisclosed."
* Bargaining units representing Grand Forks Public Schools' principals and directors will delay negotiations until after May 2, when the Legislature is set to close out its 2025 session. School Board members agreed to separate requests submitted by both entities.
