Education
District discusses future facilities
LISD third grade reading, math scores decline In Leander ISD, third grade student performance in math and reading declined on the State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness in 2023-24, according to district data presented at a Sept. 19 board of trustees meeting. A closer look House Bill 3, passed in 2019, requires Texas school districts to adopt five-year goals for early childhood reading and math, which is measured by the percentage of third grade students that met grade level on the STAAR. From the 2022-23 to 2023-24 school year, the percentage of third grade students meeting grade level in reading declined from 62% to 56%. In math, the percentage of third grade students meeting grade level declined from 53% to 49% from the 2022-23 school year to last school year.
Third grade STAAR passage rate
80% Reading Math
60% 40% 20% 0%
Leander ISD may open enrollment to students outside of the district and begin building a new elementary school. The big picture This school year, LISD’s Long-Range Planning Committee is seeking to address several questions, including: • Whether to build a joint facility for New Hope High School and the Leander Extended Opportunity Center • When to build Elementary School Nos. 31, 32 and 33 • Whether to open enrollment outside the district At a Sept. 19 meeting, board members expressed a desire to open enrollment and begin building Elementary School No. 31.
NOTE: THE STAAR TEST WAS NOT CONDUCTED DURING THE 2019-20 SCHOOL YEAR DUE TO THE CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC. DATA INCLUDES TESTS TAKEN IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH.
SOURCE: LEANDER ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
The background The state introduced a redesigned STAAR in 2023 administered fully online and featuring more open-ended, written questions as opposed to multiple choice. Also of note The percentage of graduating seniors exhibiting preparedness for entering college, a career or the military increased from 84% to 86% from the class of 2022 to the class of 2023.
LISD continues employing uncertified teachers For the second year in a row, Leander ISD will use waivers from the Texas Education Agency to hire and employ teachers without a teaching certificate. How it works
The district anticipates using 53 waivers this school year for: Filling in the gaps
Educators are expected to work toward receiving their certification while teaching. The context LISD began using certification waivers last school year to fill vacant teaching positions and will con- tinue the waivers due to a lack of certified teaching candidates in the district, said Tiffany Duncan, interim chief human resources officer.
23
14
new elementary teachers
staff members continuing from the 2023-24 school year 16 new secondary teachers
Total: 53 waivers
Texas school districts can apply for waivers allowing uncertified candidates to teach for up to three years, excluding prekindergarten, spe- cial education and bilingual teaching positions.
SOURCE: LEANDER ISD/COMMUNITY IMPACT
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