At last night's Board of Education meeting, Director of Curriculum and Instruction Debbie Wilson shared an update on the incredible progress our third graders are making in reading. While state requirements for third-grade promotion are changing, Harrison Schools is already ahead of the curve, proving that our students, teachers, and families are a winning team!.
Mrs. Wilson highlighted the phenomenal growth of our current third-grade class. By focusing on individual student needs and providing the right support at the right time, we have seen the number of students requiring intensive support drop significantly:
End of Last Year: 89 students were at Level 1.
This Past Fall: That number dropped to 60 students.
This Winter: We are down to only 40 students at Level 1.
The Big Win: Currently, only 6 students are in a position where they do not yet meet the state standard or qualify for a "good cause" exemption.
This steady improvement is a testament to the hard work happening in our classrooms every single day. We are closing the gap and ensuring our Goblins are ready for the future!.
We know that every child’s journey is unique. Harrison Schools is committed to using every tool available to support our students, including:
Personalized Interventions: Using the ATLAS Assessment to track progress and adjust instruction in real-time.
Good Cause Exemptions: Recognizing that some students—such as those with disabilities, English learners, or those who have faced traumatic events—deserve specialized pathways to promotion.
High-Impact Resources: Providing 90 minutes of daily evidence-based instruction, specialized "Read at Home" plans, and priority access to literacy tutoring grants.
Mrs. Wilson’s "Take Away" was clear: Harrison Schools is not just meeting a requirement; we are fulfilling a promise to our community. By identifying needs early and providing intensive, targeted support, we are ensuring that every child has the foundation of literacy they need to succeed in high school and beyond.
We are so proud of the resilience and dedication shown by our students, as well as the tireless commitment of our incredible staff who make this growth possible every day. Let’s keep cheering them on as they reach new heights!