Recognizing the urgent need for targeted support amid staffing shortages, PHESD turned to GROW to provide small-group interventions and accelerate learning for struggling students.
In fall 2024, PHESD launched a 12-week GROW program to provide targeted ELA support for 4th and 5th graders who had fallen behind. GROW tutors worked with students in small-group settings, focusing on acceleration strategies to close learning gaps, while classroom teachers concentrated on core instruction.
This approach allowed the district to expand intervention efforts without needing to bring on additional staff, ensuring more students received the support they needed to progress.
Over the 12-week GROW program, PHESD students demonstrated significant gains in i-Ready ELA scores from BOY to MOY.
4th Grade Outcomes
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BOY 4% on grade level MOY ↑ 350% Grade-level proficiency (17%) ↓ 35% Students 2+ grade levels behind ↓ 60% Students 3+ grade levels behind |
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5th Grade Outcomes
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BOY 4% on grade level MOY ↑ 130% Students at/near grade level (41%) ↓ 28% Students 2+ grade levels behind ↓ 75% Students 3+ grade levels behind |
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Student Confidence Gains
✓ 84% felt prepared for new topics
✓ 74% reported confidence about taking tests
These results highlight the impact of targeted small-group tutoring in closing learning gaps and boosting student confidence. Despite staffing challenges, PHESD’s success with GROW demonstrates the power of scalable interventions to support student progress.
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