Gains in English, math seen in Pine Bluff student testing

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Students in the Pine Bluff School District showed sizable gains from the previous school year in most grade levels for English/language arts (ELA) and math in the second district common formative assessment of 2024-25.

The district uses the tests based on the Arkansas Teaching and Learning Assessment, or ATLAS, given later in the school year to measure the academic performance of each school in the state. The average performance percentage for almost each grade level in both subjects was higher in comparison to the quarterly DCFA given the year before.

Some notable examples: The average score of seventh graders in ELA on the first quarterly DCFA this school year was 60%, much higher than when they were sixth-graders (36%). This year’s seventh-graders also did better on the second quarterly DCFA (48%) than they did last year (34%). Those who take seventh-grade match scored better in both of this year’s DCFAs (64% in the first quarter and 53% in the second) than they did as sixth-graders (51% and 35%).

According to the data, 75% or higher means a student was “ready,” or meeting or exceeding the benchmark; 60-75% means a student was “close” to meeting the benchmark; and 59% or lower means a student is “not ready” yet to meet the benchmark.

“What you notice in the data is that we’re growing, from last year to this year,” said Lutonya Rauls, curriculum and instruction executive director for the PBSD, while showing data at a PBSD board meeting last week.

There were some drops in performance. Among them: 10th graders averaged 47% in second-quarter ELA, a 1% drop from the second quarter in 2023-24, and geometry students averaged 36% during the second quarter this year, compared to 55% last year.

Superintendent Jennifer Barbaree said the data helps district staff predict how students will perform on state standards in the ATLAS.

“Our teachers (are) understanding what our students are going to be tested on,” Barbaree said. “Being able to know the state standard, what the state standard is asking the students to perform and be able to do, which has been helpful because we have those performance-level descriptors, now.”

SPRING BREAK SHORTENED

District certified Personnel Policy Committee chairman Kourtney Smith told the board March 17 and 18 will be used as snow makeup days.

The days will make up Jan. 9 and 10, when school was closed due to the snowstorm in Jefferson County.

“Because we don’t have AMI (alternative method of instruction) days, we have to make those days up,” Smith said. “When we launched the early-start calendar last year, we had them built in, because it’s wise practice to do, when we have the snow days. Because we have those extended breaks, it only made sense to do it on the front end, and that way our students won’t be getting the full two weeks of spring break, but they’ll get a week-and-a-half, which is longer than they traditionally got.”

Spring break in the PBSD will now begin March 19 and run through March 28.

The PPC on Monday launched a survey to gather data on the public’s thoughts about the extended school calendar, which began in July for the first time in the PBSD this school year. The survey is going out to district students, parents and staff through email, Smith said.

Out of 116 responses that afternoon, Smith reported: 69% said they had a favorable view of the early-start calendar; 54% said they believe it has had a positive academic impact; 46% said it has helped with student attendance; 49% said it has helped with staff attendance; and 60% said it has helped decrease student burnout, as students have more breaks with the extended calendar than they do the traditional August-May frame.

Asked if they want to go back to the traditional calendar, 72% said no.

“Before we decide which calendar or direction we’re going in (for 2025-26), I think it’s important that we gauge the frequency or temperature,” Smith said.

BARBAREE EXTENDED TO 2028

The board unanimously agreed to extend Barbaree’s contract by one year through the 2027-28 school year. Barbaree was appointed as superintendent Jan. 1, 2023, nearly a year before the PBSD was released from state control.

Voters in the district also approved a millage unification and increase to fund ongoing construction of a new Pine Bluff High School that summer, a victory for Barbaree and the district in the eyes of the Arkansas Board of Education.

“We want to focus on our student achievement,” she said when asked about going forward in the PBSD. “All of our students, we want to ensure the students are getting the best quality education, they’re reading on grade level, where they’re proficient readers — that is a huge focus to make sure our foundational reading skill are present ­– and at the high school level, making sure we have the rigor that’s making our students prepared for college and career.”

Barbaree added completion of the high school campus, which is scheduled for 2026, and financial stability are goals during the new contract term.

She was awarded a three-year contract through 2027 last year, and the board is adding a year to keep the deal at three years.

“She’s a dynamic superintendent and well sought out in many circles across the state of Arkansas,” board President Sederick Charles Rice said. “The Arkansas School Board Association, ADE (Arkansas Department of Education), they laud her for her experience. She’s been at different school districts as superintendent that she’s leading, and we’re thankful and blessed to have her. So, we want to do what we can to continue to keep her to move our district forward.”

SHOWING YOUR STRIPES

Winners of the PBSD Spelling Bee were presented with Showing Your Stripes certificates:

First grade: Winner Alayiaa Harris, second place Kaisley Mickens;

Second grade: Winner Princeton Russell, second place Journee Dixon, third place Peyton Chambers;

Third grade: Winner Peyton Chambers, second place Goldyn McWhite, third place Summer Carter;

Fourth grade: Winner Kattalayah Johnson, second place Skylar Perry, third place Riley Allen;

Fifth grade: Winner Chloe Christmas, second place SaMira Walton, third place Kaleigh Watkins;

Sixth grade: Winner Kelton Moore, second place Jordynn Carter, third place Chloe Wright, fourth place Amanda White.

Staff members Alneta Whimper (34th Avenue Elementary), Kristina Berry (Pine Bluff Junior High), Crystal Barnes (Pine Bluff High School), Justin Jones (Broadmoor Elementary) and Dorothy Henley (Southwood Elementary) received certificate for outstanding dedication and commitment.

All seven school board members received Showing Your Stripes awards for National School Board Month.