Portage Township Schools has officially expanded its online educational offering, the PACE Virtual Academy, to include grades 6 through 8. This development, which follows significant interest from parents, was approved by the Portage Township School Board on October 16, 2023. Initially launched as an online high school, the academy will now cater to younger students, making it accessible to those outside the district’s borders.
The virtual academy will implement a support system for students who may struggle with the online format. Should students fall behind in their lessons, they will be required to attend in-person meetings at Portage High School with designated mentors. Superintendent Amanda Alaniz confirmed that mentors will receive a stipend for their weekly sessions, ensuring that no mentor is responsible for more than ten students.
Improvements in Literacy Scores Reported
The school board meeting also highlighted recent achievements in literacy among students. Linda Williams, the district’s Director of Grants and Assessments, reported on the IREAD scores, expressing excitement over the district’s progress. “Every single one of our buildings showed growth from this time last year,” Williams stated.
This year, the district’s overall IREAD passage rate reached 89.3%, surpassing the state average of 87.3%. Central Elementary School, which employed a literacy coach as part of a state initiative, saw a significant rise in passing rates—from 66.1% in 2024 to 86.8% this year, marking an impressive improvement of 20.7%. Meanwhile, Jones Elementary School achieved the highest rate, with 97.4% of its students passing the test, while Aylesworth Elementary School recorded a passing rate of 80.3%.
Williams commended the collective effort of the schools, noting that Saylor Elementary experienced an increase of 18.7% in passing rates, closely followed by Jones Elementary at 17.1%. The success of Central’s literacy coach has been noted as a pivotal factor, although expanding this program district-wide could pose financial challenges, according to Vice President Wilma Vazquez.
Future Initiatives and Funding Challenges
The funding structure for the literacy coach program is shifting, with the state phasing out its support. Associate Superintendent Michael Stephens indicated that the district will gradually assume a larger share of the costs until the state funding concludes.
District strategies also included using WIN (What I Need) time to provide additional support for students, with various instructors contributing to literacy lessons. Summer school was structured as an intervention program, allowing students to rotate through three instructors, each focusing on narrower literacy lessons.
Williams emphasized the importance of focused curriculum and professional development, stating, “More and more of our teachers have embraced the Science of Reading literacy training.” Looking ahead, she expressed optimism for further improvements in the coming year.
With the expansion of the PACE Virtual Academy and the notable gains in literacy scores, Portage Township Schools continues to adapt and respond to the educational needs of its community.
