Progress toward these goals will be monitored through a new online platform, with regular reviews and public reporting to ensure transparency and accountability, officials said.
"This intentional alignment ensures that every campus is working toward the same districtwide priorities, promoting consistency, accountability and a unified vision for student success,” said Tiffany Foster, executive director of student services, at an Oct. 21 board meeting.
The plan
Katie Marchena-Roldan, executive director of the teaching and Learning department, said the plan includes five districtwide objectives with actionable strategies, including:
- Achieving and maintaining an A accountability rating through instructional supports and interventions
- Improving attendance and family engagement in early education through a campaign and monthly communication on district and campus social media feeds
- Strengthening the Lamar CISD Innovative School Day to support instructional planning and real-world student experiences, which has improved teacher retention by nearly 50% since its inception
- Expanding special education supports by increasing specialized classes and behavior technician staffing
Chief Learning Officer Christi Cottongame said data from the 2024-2025 improvement plan showed mixed results in early elementary academic growth. For students in Pre-K through second grade, reading growth improved by 4%, but math performance declined by 2%.
In response, the district has implemented new unit assessments for first and second graders to allow earlier interventions, she said. These assessments are also tied to the Teacher Incentive Allotment program, further supporting educator development and effectiveness.
Meanwhile, for students in grades three through high school, last year’s focus was on improving outcomes in the “meets” category of the State of Texas Assessment of Academic Readiness and End of Course exams. The district saw gains across reading, math, and science, but not at the rate targeted—highlighting the need for continued instructional refinement, Cottongame said.
Another thing
Kayse Lazar, executive director of career and technical education and career and college readiness, said career and college readiness, or CCMR, credits not only boost accountability ratings but also brings in state financial incentives through outcomes-based bonuses, which LCISD reinvests into academic and career and technical education programs.
Between the district’s class of 2022 and 2023, the number of students earning a CCMR credit increased from 64% to 77%, Lazar said. The class of 2024 jumped to 95%.
Most graduates received the credit through college entrance exam scores and college preparation courses, according to Texas Education Agency data, which officials said have been recently expanded in LCISD. Meanwhile, almost a third of graduates received an industry-based certification in LCISD for the 2024-25 school year.
Lazar said the district plans to increase the percentage of seniors meeting the CCMR standards to 97% by May 2026.
To achieve this goal, the district will focus on targeted strategies for specific student groups, including:
- Special education students
- Students pursuing career and technical education and industry-based certifications
- Expanding dual credit opportunities and enhancing counselor training
- Improving scores on the Texas Success Initiative Assessment, or which measures college readiness
Foster said trustees will receive access to the “Plan4Learning” platform, the web-based system used by the district to monitor and document progress toward each goal by Oct. 22.
The improvement plans will come before the board for formal approval at the Nov. 18 board meeting, and will be made available to the public thereafter via the district website.
Mid-review of the plan will occur in February with a final review in the spring, Foster said.
