Early Learning Plan shows reading gains, new math goals for Park City students

Photo: Photo by note thanun

PARK CITY, Utah —  Executive Director of Teaching and Learning Amy Jenkins, Math and Science Specialist John Hall, and Literacy Specialist Katie McGinn presented their 2025-26 Early Learning Plan to the Board of Education on Tuesday, outlining goals for improving literacy and mathematics instruction in kindergarten through third grade. Jenkins explained that the plan is required under Utah law and must be submitted annually to the Utah State Board of Education. The district’s most recent plan was approved in June.

“The purpose of the plan that we’re presenting to you today really is to make sure that we’re focusing on areas where we can improve teacher expertise, improve their classroom instruction, and also improve their student outcomes,” Jenkins said.

Review of 2024-25 Goals

Last year’s literacy goal focused on first-grade fluency, with a target of increasing scores by 8% between the middle and end of the year. District data showed scores increased from 61% to 63%, a 2% gain.

“We did not meet our 8% goal,” Jenkins said. “What we do want to highlight, however, is that we had a major implementation last year. We changed out 95% of our phonics, Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 3 on our K-3 teachers, and implemented Wit and Wisdom. Instead of having an implementation dip, I feel like a 2% gain is pretty positive.”

The 2024-25 math goal called for a 5% increase in first grade scores on the Acadience Advanced Quantity Discrimination assessment. Results moved from 60% to 61%, a 1% gain .

Hall acknowledged that literacy training took priority last year. “The reality is we did not have the time with the first grade teachers to really dive into their mathematical professional learning. Literacy really took all of our attention, and so we saw an increase. That’s great, because we really didn’t add anything additional.”

Reading and State Benchmarks

Board members also heard about progress toward state and district literacy goals. The Utah State Board of Education set a target for 70% of third graders to be reading on grade level by 2027. Park City reported 65% in 2023-24 and 69% in 2024-25 .

The district’s own strategic plan is more ambitious, aiming for 90% of third graders to reach or exceed the benchmark by 2028. Local results showed 81% in 2023-24 and 86% in 2024-25 .

“We haven’t received the state rankings yet. Last year, we were ninth in the state for our overall performance in K-3 literacy,” Jenkins said. “Our academic programs at the elementary schools are only continuing to improve, and we see really strong numbers.”

2025-26 Goals

The new plan shifts its focus to mathematics.

By June 5, 2026, the district aims to increase the percentage of third graders scoring at or above benchmark on the Acadience Math Computation (COMP) assessment by 2% from beginning to end of year . In recent years, scores showed mixed results:

• 2021-22: 50% at beginning and end of year (0 change)

• 2022-23: 55% to 58% (+3%)

• 2023-24: 61% to 66% (+5%)

• 2024-25: 69% to 67% (-2%)

A similar 2% growth goal was set for first graders on the same computation measure, following three years of small gains and declines .

Hall said the work will emphasize giving teachers tools to strengthen students’ conceptual understanding of addition, subtraction, multiplication, and division. “We really want to build the capacity of teachers to help kids understand, build conceptual understanding, and share the ownership in learning with our students,” he said.

Action Steps

The plan calls for expanded professional learning and collaboration, with teachers developing coherence maps and learning progressions to track standards. Students will also be given multiple opportunities to demonstrate their understanding in different ways, with the goal of improving feedback and instructional adjustments .

Jenkins said the district remains committed to its three-year literacy implementation as well. “Even though it’s not represented in the plan anymore, it is obviously still being measured and followed and tracked,” she said.