Linn-Mar school leaders set goals to increase test scores in five-year strategic plan

MARION — Linn-Mar school leaders have set a goal of increasing by 6 percent points the standardized test scores of student demographic groups that fall below the district’s average in the next two years, with targeted support, under a new strategic plan.

This is just one goal in the district’s new five-year strategic plan unanimously approved Monday evening by the Linn-Mar school board. Over the last year, the district has held several community conversations and collected survey responses to guide the plan.

In addition to setting academic goals, the plan includes strategies to improve community engagement, retention and recruitment of teachers and management of the districts financial, physical and technological infrastructure, according to the document.

This school year, the plan holds, all students in the Linn-Mar district will increase their standardized testing scores by 3 points, including the Formative Assessment System for Teachers (FAST) reading assessment for K-2 students and the Iowa Statewide Assessment of Student Progress (ISASP) for students in third through 11th grade.

These goals would be achieved with the continued implementation of a learning framework that helps educators provide academic and behavioral strategies for students with different needs called Multi-Tiered system of Supports. The district also will continue to implement the Marzano High Reliability Schools framework — a school improvement plan also used in the Cedar Rapids and Iowa City school districts that aims to create a safe, supportive and collaborative culture.

The demographic groups to get targeted support can include those based on race, the English Language Learner program and students with an Individualized Education Plan, a legal document created for children with special needs setting supports and performance goals.

By the end of the 2028-29 school year, 85 percent of all students would score proficient on standardized tests, according to the strategic plan. This would be an increase from 77 percent on FAST, an increase from 75.5 percent in English Language Arts scores on the ISASP, and an increase from 74.5 percent in math on the ISASP.

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School leaders also aim to increase the participation rates of students from low socio-economic groups at the high school by margin of 2.5 percent through “purposeful course scheduling and advising of students“ in the following:

By spring 2029, this would represent an increase in participation for those groups from 7 to 15 percent in the ACT, an increase from 9.5 to 17.5 percent in Advanced Placement testing, an increase from 20 to 28 percent in enrollment in Venture Academics and an increase from 8.1 to 16.1 percent in dual-enrollment classes.

Another goal of the plan includes improving results in the state’s Condition for Learning Survey and surpassing the state average in all categories by the 2028-29 school year. The Condition for Learning Survey seeks to improve safety, student engagement and the overall learning environment, so students have optimum conditions for learning. For example, the survey asks questions about student safety while on school grounds and about the extent to which students feel safe from verbal abuse, teasing and exclusion.

Under the plan, the district would strive to improve retention of educators by 1.1 points from 89.9 to 91 percent by implementing strategies that align with staff data from surveys, exit interviews and conditions of learning reports.

By the spring 2029, the retention rate of certified staff — teachers — will increase by 3.1 points to 93 percent.

Other goals of the plan include:

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