RISD Trustees met the evening of Feb. 20 for a regular board meeting, discussing a variety of topics. Highlights included:
Winter MAP Results: Student Academic Growth In All Areas
Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) are nationally-normed assessments that students take three times a year in Reading and Math to help measure their academic growth. RISD students took middle of year MAP and results were reviewed with trustees. Key takeaways include:
- RISD students demonstrated academic growth on winter 2025 MAP data in all grade levels in both Reading and Mathematics compared with student grade cohorts from 2024 MAP data.
- The academic growth was demonstrated across all student groups and demographics.
- Based on the middle of year MAP results, RISD students are currently above national norms in both growth and expected growth.
RISD uses MAP growth assessments as a tool for teachers to understand how students are progressing on academic skills throughout the year. The results enable educators to make specific instructional decisions, utilize tailored academic interventions, and provide for individual goal setting with students.
RISD Expanding Inter-District Transfers For 2025-26
Trustees provided directional approval for district staff to move forward with planning to allow a limited expansion of inter-district transfers, which is the practice of allowing families that reside outside of district boundaries to attend RISD schools under certain circumstances.
The recommendation to consider the expansion, more commonly known as open enrollment, came from the RISD Community Budget Steering Committee and was initially discussed at the January regular board meeting.
The Feb. 20 presentation reinforced that families residing within RISD boundaries would be prioritized in the enrollment process, and that only campuses with excess capacity would be available to families outside of district boundaries. Inter-district transfers would be contingent upon transfer students meeting ongoing expectations in academics, attendance, and discipline. All of RISD’s neighboring school districts already offer inter-district transfers.
Enrollment for the 2025-26 school year begins February 25 for returning families and new families residing within RISD’s geographic boundaries. Inter-district transfer applications for families residing outside of RISD boundaries would be available from mid-April to mid-May, with decisions coming in early July.
Families interested in applying for a 2025-26 school year inter-district transfer can monitor www.risd.org and district social media channels for application announcement info later in the spring.
