A targeted monitoring review of Auburn’s English-learner (EL) program found the district met some requirements but was only “partially implemented” on six criteria, district leaders told the School Committee. The district has set corrective actions and timelines and will report updates to the state.

Mr. Keller, presenting the review findings, said the state review examines multiple criteria for EL programs and rated six items as implemented and six as partially implemented. The partially implemented areas included proper identification and coding of students with limited or interrupted formal education (SLIFE), formal program exit/readiness adherence to ACCESS score thresholds, formal monitoring of students whose parents decline EL services, regular progress monitoring of former ELs, and ensuring staff licensure documentation (Sheltered English Immersion endorsement) was accurately reported.

District staff said some issues stemmed from data and documentation gaps rather than instructional gaps. "We were not successfully or properly coding students who were SLIFE students within PowerSchool," Mr. Keller said. The district has purchased and begun using Elevations, a platform integrated with PowerSchool, to track EL goals and progress. The district also selected English 3D as a K–12 curriculum for EL instruction and planned staff training and summer programming using the new materials.

On program exits, the district acknowledged that state rules require a district to exit students only when they meet the ACCESS overall score of 4.2 and a 3.9 literacy score. Staff said they will adhere strictly to these thresholds going forward and will document monitoring procedures for students whose families declined EL services.

District officials said licensure discrepancies cited by the state were largely technical — for example, an educator who no longer worked in the district had been included in active staff reporting — and that the district data coordinator is addressing those records. The district submitted a Continuous Improvement and Monitoring Plan and listed target dates to provide action updates to the state on Aug. 6 and Nov. 11.

Committee members asked for follow-up evidence that the Elevations platform is being used consistently across grades and that training on English 3D is completed; district staff said training begins next week and a summer EL program will pilot the new materials.

No committee vote was required; the presentation outlined corrective actions and timelines for state reporting.