Cirrus Education Group

Minutes

CEG - Academic Committee Meeting

Date and Time

Monday April 20, 2026 at 10:00 AM

Location

Committee Members Present

L. Taylor (remote), R. Finley (remote), S. Kelly (remote)

Committee Members Absent

L. Golphin, T. Olagunju

Guests Present

Alison Bass (remote), Arleen Samuels (remote), B. Williams (remote), Brenda Edwards (remote), C. Blake (remote), Diane Freeman (remote), Nyla Thornton (remote), Sonja Riley (remote), Wendy Samuels (remote)

I. Opening Items

A.

Call the Meeting to Order

R. Finley called a meeting of the Academic Committee of Cirrus Education Group to order on Thursday Apr 16, 2026 at 10:04 AM.

B.

Record Attendance

C.

Approve Agenda

L. Taylor made a motion to approve.
S. Kelly seconded the motion.
The committee VOTED to approve the motion.

D.

Approve Minutes from March 5, 2026 Academic Committee Meeting

L. Taylor made a motion to approve the minutes from CEG - Academic Committee Meeting on 03-05-26.
S. Kelly seconded the motion.
The committee VOTED to approve the motion.

II. Academic

A.

Data and Assessment

Data and Assessment (Presented by Diane Freeman)

  • Academic data from MAP and DRC Beacon assessments was reviewed, including student growth in reading, math, and science.
  • Growth trends were discussed, noting that several grade levels met or approached targets, while others—particularly grades 1, 2, 5, and 8—require additional support.
  • Data was used to identify skill gaps and inform targeted instructional strategies and Georgia Milestones preparation.
  • Targeted interventions, including small group instruction and support for “bubble students,” were implemented to improve student outcomes.

B.

Curriculum and Instruction

Curriculum and Instruction (Presented by Nisah Brinson)

  • Curriculum implementation updates were discussed, including challenges with pacing and adjustment to new programs such as STEMscopes and Amplify.
  • Staffing gaps and instructional time constraints were noted as factors impacting science performance.
  • Curriculum effectiveness survey results were reviewed, with strong teacher support for iReady and Studies Weekly, and mixed feedback on newer curricula.
  • Recommendations were made to continue current curricula and focus on improving implementation fidelity and professional development.
  • Key focus areas for improvement include checks for understanding and consistent use of instructional strategies such as exit tickets as shared by Dr. Thornton and Ms. Bass
  • Budget considerations for curriculum renewals and instructional platforms were discussed.

C.

Culture and Attendance

Culture and Attendance (Presented by Nisah Brinson)

  • School culture and discipline data were reviewed, noting an increase in referrals driven primarily by middle school.
  • Suspension data was discussed, with out-of-school suspensions remaining steady and in-school suspensions declining.
  • Attendance trends were reviewed, with an overall attendance rate of 97.44% and improvements across most grade levels.
  • Instructional observation data was discussed, including improvements in teacher preparation, student engagement, and instructional practices.

III. Closing Items

A.

Adjourn Meeting

L. Taylor made a motion to Adjourn.
S. Kelly seconded the motion.
The committee VOTED to approve the motion.
There being no further business to be transacted, and upon motion duly made, seconded and approved, the meeting was adjourned at 12:10 PM.

Respectfully Submitted,
C. Blake
  • The committee discussed next steps for continued academic improvement, including earlier implementation of intervention programs and strengthening MTSS processes.
  • Additional planning for curriculum purchases and alignment with the upcoming budget cycle was discussed.
  • The meeting concluded following discussion of academic priorities and instructional strategies.