Students with the Picayune School District have shown improvement in their math and reading skills by utilizing computer software.
District Curriculum Director Mary Williams said the program is used by students in grades kindergarten through sixth.
When the school year started, most students were not reading at their grade level. But after using the iReady program, by the end of the year so many students had advanced that 59 percent of kindergartners could have been taught at a higher grade level, Williams said.
In the fall, 17 percent of kindergartners were reading at grade level, but by the spring, 80 percent were reading at grade level by using the software.
Similar results were seen in the subject area of math. In fact, by the end of the year, students had reached the target growth level in math, which was 100 percent or more.
By the end of the year, most students in grades kindergarten, fourth and fifth grades either passed their target score, or were very, very close, Williams said.
The only issue Williams saw during the last school year was in third grade math. To address that and other problems, Williams said teachers are currently mapping out next year’s curriculum.
The family resource center within the District is also doing well. Summer tutoring is ongoing, with plans to continue that service into the next school year. Tutoring services in the areas of math and English are available for students in grades K-12 Monday through Tuesday from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 3 p.m.
The next Board meeting will be June 20, at noon. During that meeting, the Board is expected to approved next year’s budget request, which will be used to set the millage rate.