BEATRICE – Progress is being made in student reading proficiency at the Beatrice Elementary School, with one cautionary note.

"This problem didn't happen overnight, so we're not going to fix it overnight. Definitely the trajectory is in the right way." 

Elementary Principal Missy Timmerman and Assistant Superintendent Dr. Jackie Nielsen summarized first semester progress of kindergarten to third grade students, as the district seeks to reach state proficiency for reading…including meeting the goals of the Reading Improvement Act.

Nielsen said the district recently reported data to the state. State recommendations set proficiency levels each grade should meet. "We see early signs of improvement, particularly in grade one. We've identified variances in achievement across grade levels."

Some students qualify for individual reading plans and those levels are also reported to the State of Nebraska. The goal is to lower those numbers.

"Kindergarten, we started with 38 students on a reading improvement plan. We dropped to 23."

During the first semester, the district saw the number of students on individual reading plans in first grade, decline from 32 to 27…..from 49 to 40 for second graders. An increase was seen at the third-grade level, from 25 to 28 students.

Reading Improvement Plans Chart
Reading Improvement Plans Chart  

Nielsen said students are screened for progress in reading at all elementary grade levels, throughout the school year.

"Growth is evident, but gaps widen as skills become more complex, and that's what we're seeing with grades three, four and five. Last year, the board approved the adoption of CKLA....a new reading curriculum at the elementary. This is the first year of implementation" 

Timmerman says improving reading progress involves building foundational skills and professional development with instructors, including tutoring sessions and teacher coaching. Both the principal and assistant superintendent credited teachers and leaders within that group for moving the district toward better reading proficiency among students.

"The hardest part for our staff is we've built in so many scaffolds. We've held hands so much, for our kids. We have to pull those scaffolds back and let them do it, themselves. I think that's hard for teachers, because they don't want to see kids fail."

BPS Superintendent Jason Alexander says a state education commissioner recently noted progress on reading proficiency state-wide.

"We're seeing kids go from higher risk levels, to lower risk categories, so that's working. He also said, quote, the goal is not to train teachers. The goal is to improve outcomes for students, and that's really happening."

Alexander credited the district’s board in adopting a new program aimed at better reading proficiency.