N/A - No members of the public provided comments at this meeting.

F. Reyes presented a report on the latest quarterly academic data, including the following highlights. Academic update slides and the latest academic data dashboard were also provided to the Committee.

• Student attendance remains relatively consistent, with strong improvements from last school year.
• Chronic absenteeism has been reduced from 36.4% (last year) to 19.7% (this year).
• Suspension rates are substantially lower relative to last year – 29% (last year) to 5% (this year).
• We are on track to meet ELA RICAS goals based on interim assessments. The current cohort of 5th graders improved from 17.5% to 32.1% and the current cohort of 6th graders improved from 26.4% to 34.5%. 9% of students are on track to exceed expectations, and our goal is at least 10%.
• We are not on track to meet Math and Science goals based on interim assessments. Only 2.5% of students are on track to exceed expectations; our goal is at least 10%. We are in the process of adapting our interim assessment protocol for next year to get more consistent and predictable data and be able to take actions in response to the data to better meet our goals. Ring noted that we have been in the process this spring of implementing improved practice methods and intend to implement similar practices much earlier in the year next year. Perry noted that 9/20 questions were on content that students hadn't learned yet, and so we are adapting our approach to reviewing the test from a skills-focused perspective, so that students are better equipped to answer the questions even if they haven't yet covered the specific content by that point in the year. Reyes also noted that 
• In response to the data, we have shifted our practices in order to meet our goals:
  • We've developed teacher and leader teams that own performance through weekly assessment and data tracking.
  • We launched a writing bootcamp in preparation for ELA RICAS.
  • In preparation for Math RICAS, we did all-hands on deck small groups focused on math test strategies.
  • A priority for next year is to create an interim assessment to gather RICAS aligned data more predictably and consistently to intervene earlier.
• Additional data headlines
  • Mid-year attrition remains low (3.6%). We expect 97% of staff to return for the 24-25 school year.
  • We’re waiting for the RIDE Surveyworks data to be released, however, our tracking on survey indicates that staff is satisfied and optimistic that we can continue to show improvement. 
     

K. Ring presented updates on the following academic priorities:

• Students are held to a high bar for academic expectations.
• Data-driven instruction and coaching
  • Includes progress monitoring for intervention
• Streamlined, intentional reading and writing practices in all contents

L. Cariaga-Lo asked for information about plans for the summer regarding academic priorities. M. Perry summarized the school's plans for three summer touch-points with advisors for students with academic and/or cultural/behavioral challenges this year. The team did this last summer and it was effective. For some students, the touch-points are focused more on academics, and for others, it's more about relationship-building and culture-building. Around 40-50 students participated in these touch-points last summer. There will also be summer school for students who have failed courses this year. M. Perry will also be leading a program for students to pick out a book over the summer. Next week on May 9th we are also providing information to newly admitted families about what to expect for next year.

K. Ring presented updates on the following culture priorities:

• Students are held to a high bar of behavioral excellence.
• Students identify as learners.
• Data-driven decision making and interventions

K. Ring also summarized that a continued leadership priority is for the leadership team to participate in All Means All and use the work in that program to share our priorities for the upcoming school year.

L. Cariaga-Lo thanked the staff for all the very good work and exciting initiatives and the consistent intentionality around uses of data to drive decision-making and academic strategies.

F. Rojas echoed these sentiments and also expressed excitement about seeing the results of this work next year and continuing to monitor these key indicators in future Committee meetings.

A. Kaynor reminded the group of the structure of the SIP and the process for the LEA Strategic Plan. Reviewing this data quarterly is something we prioritize anyway, and it also aligns to the Strategic Plan and SIP requirements.

Following is a summary of updates to the XLRI LEA Strategic Plan. These updates are informed by stakeholder input, including a CRP Family Input meeting and survey, a staff survey, meetings with individual staff members, and a meeting with the XLRI Family Leadership Council, and we will also incorporate any feedback from the Academic Oversight Committee and School Improvement Team at this meeting and in the coming weeks prior to the Board's vote to approve the updated LEA Strategic Plan. These updates also incorporate new requirements from RIDE this year.

Summary of Updates:

• Incorporate SY23-24 data.
• No changes to existing goals, except to incorporate Science, per new RIDE requirements this year. For reference, our SY25-26 Strategic Plan goals are:
  • Fewer than 18% of Excel Academy Rhode Island students will be identified as chronically absent.
  • The percentage of incoming 5th graders from the 2022-2023 class earning meets or exceeds expectations on ELA, Math RICAS, and Science NGSA (added) will increase by 8% each year as they move through Excel Rhode Island.
  • Across all tested grades and subjects, Excel Academy students will perform above the state average for student growth percentile and rise to be in the top quartile in the state for SGP.
  • 70% of teachers and support professionals earn a 3 or higher on the Student Learning component of the RIDE Model Evaluation Rubric.
• Clarify goals to reflect planned uses of CRP funding, as informed by stakeholder feedback, including: the share of teachers, learning professionals, and administrators that are experienced educators that share identities with our students increased by 20% from the 2023-2024 school year.

M. Perry requested to meet with F. Reyes and review the science goal updates.

F. Reyes requested that Committee members provide any additional feedback and recommendations via email, Google Docs. edits, or meeting over the next two weeks, and the finalized draft will then be presented to the full Board for final approval before submitting updates to RIDE by July 1.

The School Improvement Team and Academic Oversight Committee expressed gratitude to all those who helped prepare the draft updates to the LEA Strategic Plan and agreed that they are comfortable approving the recommendation to the full Board to approve the updated plan and do not see a need to hold an additional meeting between now and that Board approval vote.

Solomon presented summary updates on how the school has used and intends to use its resources to support the strategic plan, as captured in the SY23-24 Consolidated Resource Plan (CRP). One of the goals of this plan is to provide a clear, accessible, and strategically aligned plan for how Excel proposes to use funds in SY24-25 (“FY25”) to continue to advance our objectives for school improvement and student success.

The funds used in Excel's CRP are federal grants under the following programs:

• Title I-A: support districts and schools with high numbers or high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards. 
• Title II-A: help LEAs support effective instruction.
• Title IV: improve students’ academic achievement by increasing capacity to provide students with well rounded education, improve school conditions for student learning, improve the use of technology to improve academic achievement and digital literacy.
• IDEA Part B: fund activities that help to ensure that all children with disabilities can access a free appropriate public education that emphasizes special education and related services to meet their unique needs. 

The School Improvement Team and Academic Oversight Committee discussed the CRP updates and plans for how to use CRP funds in SY24-25 and provided feedback and recommendations, which A. Solomon incorporated into the CRP. A. Solomon asked for Committee members to email him or set up 1:1 conversations to discuss if they have any questions about the CRP materials or any additional feedback or ideas that they would like to propose incorporating in the plan before it is finalized.

List of documents presented at meeting:

• Draft updates to LEA Strategic Plan
• Academic Oversight Committee quarterly data dashboard and update slides
• 1.25.24 Academic Oversight Committee meeting minutes
• Draft FY24 XLRI CRP Program Evaluation and FY25 School-Wide Program Plan