During the October Regular Board meeting, RISD Trustees reviewed several information items and took action on other items.
See the highlights and presentations for these topics:
Beginning-of-Year MAP Scores
RISD students are showing strong academic growth, with MAP results indicating that students across grade levels are continuing to make progress and, on average, outperforming national norms in both Reading and Mathematics. The latest Board of Trustees presentation highlighted this momentum, with Beginning-of-Year (BOY) progress monitoring showing RISD is continuing to move toward its North Star Goal: Every student, teacher, and leader will meet or exceed their academic growth goals.
That growth is evident across the district. In year-over-year cohort tracking from Fall 2025 to Fall 2026, 53% of students in Reading and 54% in Math met their growth targets, exceeding the national growth norm of 50%. Gains were seen across every student demographic group, including African American, Hispanic, White, Economically Disadvantaged, Emergent Bilingual and Special Education students.
Student achievement also continues to support the district’s long-term 2027 Board Goals. Third-grade students are building important foundational skills, with 53% reaching proficiency in Reading and 47% in Math on state assessments. At the high school level, 98% of graduating seniors met College, Career and Military Readiness (CCMR) criteria, significantly exceeding the district’s original goal.
RISD is building on this progress by keeping the focus on what happens every day in classrooms. Campuses are using data to guide instruction, strengthen observation and feedback, and support collaborative lesson planning. Teachers are using high-quality instructional materials and prioritizing state standards to meet students where they are, while campus teams use Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) to provide targeted support. Through district learning walks, principal leadership and strong family communication—including parent growth goal camps—RISD is continuing to create the conditions for every student to grow, thrive and reach their goals.
Campus Improvement and Targeted Support Plans
Trustees adopted the 2026–27 District Improvement Plan, which aligns with campus improvement plans to advance districtwide priorities and improve student outcomes. District leaders presented the district’s 2026–27 Campus Improvement Plans (CIPs), Targeted Improvement Plans (TIPs) and Turnaround Plans (TAPs), highlighting how campus goals and instructional strategies align with the district’s North Star Goal: Every student, teacher, and leader will meet or exceed their academic growth goals.
The presentation celebrated academic progress across the district, including RISD’s overall state accountability rating of B and improved performance at multiple campuses. Lake Highlands Middle School and Jess Harben Elementary exited school improvement status, while Aikin and Wallace elementary schools moved to a lower level of support.
Plans for the 2026–27 school year focus on five district priorities: Growth, Talent, Instruction, Engagement and Stewardship. These priorities guide the work outlined in the District and Campus Improvement Plans, ensuring that strategies and resources are aligned to district goals while addressing the unique needs of individual campuses.
- Growth: Ensuring 100% of students, teachers and leaders meet or exceed their academic growth goals, as outlined in the district’s North Star Goal.
- Talent: Recruiting, developing and retaining a highly qualified, diverse staff.
- Instruction: Providing high-quality instruction for all students.
- Engagement: Strengthening communication, collaboration and connections with families and the community.
- Stewardship: Using district resources responsibly, efficiently and strategically to support student success.
To support implementation, campuses will use student performance data, collaborative planning, high-quality instructional materials, professional learning and ongoing progress monitoring to strengthen student outcomes. Additional coaching, staffing support and targeted instructional resources will be provided to campuses with identified needs. Together, these efforts will help ensure that districtwide priorities translate into meaningful action at every campus and advance RISD’s commitment to continuous improvement and student success.
The plans will continue through regular progress reviews and updates to the Board, reinforcing RISD’s commitment to continuous improvement and ensuring every student has the opportunity to grow and thrive.
Special Message from Superintendent Tabitha Branum:
I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to our RISD community for the unwavering support it continues to show our students, staff and campuses. Most recently, we’ve received a number of questions and expressions of concern about RISD Academy’s continued designation as a high-focus campus. We’re grateful that families, community members and partners are asking how they can help. This is a powerful reminder of what it means to come together for our students and educators. From providing tutoring and volunteering with We Read Together to supporting teachers and helping meet campus needs, these acts of kindness can make a meaningful difference in the daily experiences of our students and staff.
RISD Academy has dedicated educators who give their all every day to help students grow, and our community’s willingness to stand alongside them is a powerful reminder that we are in this together. We also know that several of our campuses are engaged in focused improvement efforts, and we are grateful for community members who want to help make a difference. In addition to RISD Academy, our continued high-focus campuses include Skyview. Northrich and Stults Road are identified as Campuses for Additional Support, while Audelia Creek, Dover, Liberty, Northwood Hills and Forestridge are recognized as Improved Priority Campuses. Each campus has unique strengths, needs and opportunities for growth, and continued support from our community helps students and educators build on progress and achieve meaningful growth.
I encourage everyone who wants to make a difference to sign up through our RISD volunteer website and explore opportunities to support these campuses, whether through tutoring, reading programs, classroom assistance or other campus-identified needs. You may also connect directly with Dr. Melissa Heller, Assistant Superintendent of Strategy and Engagement.
Our North Star Goal — that every student, teacher and leader will meet or exceed their academic growth goals — is a commitment we share with our community. When we rally around our students and educators, we show what makes RISD special. Together, we can help every student grow, thrive and reach their full potential.
Enrollment Timeline Adjusted to Expand Opportunities for Families
RISD is adjusting its enrollment timeline to give families earlier access to magnet programs, specialized learning opportunities, transfers and open enrollment. The changes support the district’s efforts to expand student choice, respond to family interests and help more students find programs that align with their passions, learning styles and future goals.
Beginning with the 2027–28 enrollment cycle, key application and enrollment windows will open earlier, giving families more time to explore options and plan for the upcoming school year.
Key Enrollment Dates
- Nov. 1: Applications to all magnet programs, Dual Language choice programs, new to RISD enrollment and intra and inter district transfers open
- Feb. 23: General enrollment for returning students opens
RISD offers a variety of academic and specialized programs designed to help students explore their interests and prepare for future success. By expanding choice opportunities and making the enrollment process more accessible, the district is working to attract new families, retain current students and strengthen connections with the community.
Families are encouraged to watch district and campus websites, ParentSquare and social media for application information and program updates. These efforts reflect RISD’s commitment to providing engaging, family-centered learning experiences and ensuring every student has the opportunity to grow, lead, create and thrive.
View the full board meeting recording. You may also see the meeting video highlights, presented by Trustee Pacheco, which include recognitions of staff, students and volunteers who make RISD the ONE.
