The Challenge
When California’s Common Core State Standards were about to change, the Oak Grove School District realized its existing benchmark assessments didn’t align with the new standards. After evaluating several programs, the team decided on i-Ready, because they saw its application not only as a districtwide benchmarking tool but also as a way classroom teachers could gather data about their students’ performance and monitor growth.
Of course, classrooms are not driven by data alone—they’re driven by teachers whose time is limited, valuable, and best used working with students. The Oak Grove team had found that assessment and instruction programs varied widely and often posed challenges—teachers could not always easily access and understand data, and assessment data didn’t always closely link to recommendations for instruction. They needed a program that wouldn’t require too much extra work—one that would make it simpler for teachers to assess their students’ strengths and gaps and to share data with students. A program that could do this would help teachers work with students to set goals, develop action plans, and together, celebrate growth.
Oak Grove found their criteria were met with i-Ready. Amy Boles, Director of Educational Services, described how Oak Grove found the support they needed to begin building data-driven classrooms: “i-Ready has been a wonderful tool for us so we can have those conversations around how students are doing throughout the year, not just at the end of the year after the summative assessments.”
Our Philosophy
When students engage with teachers around data and participate in setting personal goals, they feel empowered in their learning. As students see the gains they’re making, their confidence grows and their relationship with their teacher strengthens. A data-driven culture starts to form—one in which students and educators share a common understanding of data that drives instruction and teachers and administrators share a strong commitment to the success of every student.
Our programs were designed based on the principle that when students take ownership of their learning, they progress at a faster rate and are motivated to achieve. We believe that data can be transformative in making this happen. When educators can combine a deeper knowledge of students’ individual needs with effective and engaging instruction and practice that addresses these specific needs, they are best able to support students and help them make progress toward proficiency and growth.
Our Solution
i-Ready is the realization of our philosophy that personalized learning and student growth thrive in a data-driven classroom. In a single program, i-Ready integrates powerful assessments and rich insights with effective and engaging instruction and practice resources to address students’ individual needs. As a result, teachers are empowered every day to make more informed instructional decisions, while every student has access to a personal path to growth.
One Oak Grove teacher reflected on using i-Ready in her own data-driven classroom, “The data allows me to delve deeper with my individual students, and in that way, it fosters a human connection that builds trust and inspires us all to be our best.”