<body><div><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=47Oa7D_1H4evWGL00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=47Oa7D_1H4evWGL00" width="884" height="452" >Last month, Old Saybrook's Kathleen E. Goodwin School was recognized by the state for improvements in student English language arts performance. The recognition came after several months of residents expressing dissatisfaction with student reading scores.In a letter to parents, Old Saybrook Superintendent Chris Drezek announced that Kathleen E. Goodwin School had been named a School of Distinction by the Connecticut State Department of Education for high growth in English language arts among all students and students with high needs.According to a state press release, “Goodwin's ELA Performance Index rose from 72.1 in 2024-25 to 76.0 in 2025-26 for all students, exceeding the state's target of 75, and from 59.3 to 66.7 for students with high needs. The 7.4-point gain for students with high needs exceeded the 3.9-point gain for all students, narrowing the difference between the two scores from 12.8 to 9.3 points.”Drezek said he was proud of the progress students and teachers had made at the school. Asked what he attributed the growth to, Drezek cited multiple factors.“The staff at Goodwin was hard at work improving our performance in literacy. The leadership team at Goodwin and the district made multiple changes last school year to improve literacy performance, including increasing literacy blocks, providing more professional learning, and giving teachers concentrated time to review student performance data,” Drezek said. “All of those efforts paid off in our students’ results and Goodwin being named a School of Distinction for literacy growth for all students and students with high needs.”Drezek noted that the scores were from the 2025-26 academic year. However, he also emphasized that the district had taken additional steps to address concerns over student reading scores.“For this year, the addition of a literacy coach and a math coach, plus additional resources for professional learning and changes to how we share student data with parents and families, will only increase our efforts. The addition of dedicated department leaders in all of our buildings is also helping to improve performance for our kids,” Drezek said.“I think the important thing for the community to know is that we recognized over a year ago that we needed to enhance our literacy program. We put interventions in place, and our performance improved. Families should know that their students are in good hands, and we will continue to strengthen our programs to do what’s best for all of our students.”Beyond the improvements at the elementary school, Drezek also noted high marks for the district as a whole, which ranked first in its district reference group and second among shoreline districts in the state's accountability index.According to the release, the state's accountability score is calculated using 12 indicators, including academic achievement, growth, attendance, graduation, postsecondary readiness, physical fitness, and arts access.“These are results our school community can be proud of because they reflect more than a single test,” Drezek said. “The state looks at a broad range of indicators, and our improvement over three reporting years shows Old Saybrook is moving in a positive direction. I’m especially encouraged by the English Language Arts gains at Goodwin among all students, including students with high needs. We have more work ahead, but this progress matters.”Literacy instruction in Old Saybrook has emerged as a major topic of conversation in the district over the last year.The issue dates back to 2023, when the school system selected ARC Core Curriculum, one of six reading programs identified by the state as eligible for implementation under a new law emphasizing evidence-based reading instruction for students in kindergarten through third grade. The district piloted the program at Kathleen E. Goodwin School during the 2023-24 school year.However, parents have since argued that the program has not produced the results they expected and, at an April school board meeting, urged the board to replace it.In response, the district hired Dr. Rachael Gabriel to conduct an independent review of the ARC program so the district could assess how to proceed.Gabriel released her report in early June. While she did not recommend replacing ARC, she outlined several changes she said could improve the program.District and school board leaders have pledged to take steps to improve literacy scores, work that Drezek said was ongoing.“While these results are certainly worth celebrating, what makes them special is the hard work behind them. Our students continue to grow, our teachers and staff work tirelessly to support them, and our families play an important role in that success. We have much to be proud of as a school community,” he said.</div></body>

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Last month, Old Saybrook's Kathleen E. Goodwin School was recognized by the state for improvements in student English language arts performance. The recognition came after several months of residents expressing dissatisfaction with student reading scores. In a letter to parents, Old Saybrook Superintendent Chris Drezek announced that Kathleen E. Goodwin...

Goodwin School Recognized for Gains in Literacy

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Last month, Old Saybrook's Kathleen E. Goodwin School was recognized by the state for improvements in student English language arts performance. The recogn

Goodwin School Recognized for Gains in Literacy

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