Mid-Year Check-in: What STARI Spotlight Stories Teach Us About Growth

The start of a new year can feel like a moment to reset and refocus. Mid-year data offers insights, not final answers, and there’s still meaningful work ahead to support students’ reading confidence, skill growth, and engagement.

Recent STARI Spotlight stories highlight how educators are approaching that work right now:

Small School, Mighty Results

At PLT Campus in Prophetstown, IL, educators made a bold decision to prioritize reading with STARI. After one year, 84% of participating students moved up at least one level on the IAR. Just as important, students began setting goals, tracking progress, and seeing themselves as contributors to their school community, reminding us that growth shows up in mindset as well as scores. Read More

Leading STARI Professional Learning, Insights from Two Facilitators

Two facilitators shared how leading STARI training in their own schools was manageable when it connected directly to classroom practice, using real video examples, familiar routines, and ongoing check-ins. Their experience is a reminder that meaningful professional learning can strengthen implementation at any point in the year. Read More

Path to Progress

As the second half of the year unfolds, consider these practical steps:

• Center student agency: Invite students to set small goals and track progress, not just on tests but in the habits that support reading growth.
  

• Revisit routines with colleagues: Use professional learning moments, formal or informal, to reflect on what’s working and adjust together.
  

• Lean into real talk: Use structured discussion to uncover thinking and deepen comprehension, even when scores feel stuck.
  

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What We've Been Reading: