Last summer the Des Moines School Board formally adopted a set of SMART goals and metrics for monitoring progress toward them.

The first one is: Student Expectation Goal 1: The percent of all third grade students on track in reading will increase from 52% to 72% by June 2023, as measured by FAST (Formative Assessment System for Teachers).

When the 2019-20 school year began, K-5 teachers at Des Moines Public Schools were armed with a new curriculum that promises to be a major tool as elementary reading proficiency builds toward the targeted benchmark. EL Education (formerly Expeditionary Learning) is impacting student achievement in diverse communities across the country, ensuring that students not only master rigorous content, but develop positive character in the process.

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