Targeted, individualized support gets results: literacy reform with goal-tracking, goals set with families, leveled lessons, newcomer/ELL support

Targeted, individualized support gets results. Examples include literacy reform with goal-tracking, small classes with per-student goals set with families, lessons modified to level, and newcomer/ELL supports.

About this proposal: This statement was drafted by the MSEG team to capture the common thread across 7 comments shared on the What's Working board at the June 1, 2026 community engagement session. The original comments appear below, unedited, so you can see exactly what was said. Read all 159 comments from the session.

What we heard

• Small class where each student had something like an IEP; we met with students + parents to set goals and met regularly to track progress; principal let us try new ways
• My school completely reformed their approach to teaching literacy, including a service center model and an inclusion teacher model, and new systems to create goals + track outcomes — it works
• Having targeted supports for newcomers/ELL students
• Having my child finally being heard & getting what she needs so she can graduate this upcoming year
• My school fosters a love of reading
• Teachers modifying the lessons to the student's level to build confidence
• As a middle-schooler and newcomer, support in math and reading before and after school took me from below grade level to taking AP by 7th grade