Johnstown
Weld RE-5J plan targets third-grade reading gains by May 2027
The plan also seeks to lower the share of students identified with significant reading deficiencies to 14.5% or less and reduce chronic absenteeism at Roosevelt High School from 35% to 28%.
Weld RE-5J’s improvement plan aims to raise the share of third-graders meeting grade-level reading expectations from 59% at the end of the 2025-26 school year to at least 65% by May 2027.
The gap appears across the elementary grades: 85% of kindergartners met early literacy expectations at the end of 2025-26, compared with 74% of first-graders, 69% of second-graders and 59% of third-graders. The district plan says the same pattern appeared the year before. It reports that 15.5% of students were identified with a significant reading deficiency in 2025-26, down from 16.5% in each of the previous two years and nearly 30% in earlier years. The plan targets 14.5% or less by May 2027 and 13.5% or less by May 2028.
Principals presented their plans two weeks earlier, with some continuing two-year plans and others required to present new plans to the state. The board was asked to approve the plans as presented. The elementary plans were described as closely aligned without being rigid, allowing leaders to pursue similar targets in their own ways and draw on their strengths.
Roosevelt High School reported a 35% chronic absenteeism rate in 2025-26. Its plan targets 28% by the end of 2026-27 and 24% by the end of 2027-28. The plan says some students believe they can pass classes without attending consistently because assignments remain available through Google Classroom. It describes a policy to limit access to digital curriculum and instructional materials when attendance is infrequent and inconsistent over time.
The district’s three performance priorities are English language arts, math, and student engagement and attendance. Among students in grades three through eight, the share meeting or exceeding expectations on CMAS English language arts tests was 38.8% in 2024, 38.0% in 2025 and 37.9% in 2026. On CMAS math tests, the share was 29.2%, 28.9% and 31.1% in those years. The plan says math results improved slightly in 2026, but achievement remains low and has not improved consistently over time.
To strengthen literacy instruction, the district plans more consistent curriculum use and collaborative planning, including Benchmark Advance in kindergarten through fifth grade and an Amplify English language arts curriculum refresh in grades six through eight. Its math strategy continues Bridges in kindergarten through fifth grade and Savvas enVision Math in middle and high school, alongside collaborative planning cycles. For attendance and engagement, the district plans to monitor patterns and barriers, provide targeted support and continue Culture of Care restorative practices.