SLDS launches warning system for reading deficiencies

The CNMI Statewide Longitudinal Data System Program announced late Sunday the successful launch of its Early Warning System in Reading platform and training for elementary school educators. This achievement was made possible through federal grant funding from the Institute of Education Sciences and the American Rescue Plan Act.

In collaboration with the Regional Educational Laboratory Pacific, the CNMI Public School System initiated the development of an identification of students who may be at risk of not reading proficiently by the end of third grade, thus empowering educators to offer timely interventions and support. To support this work, the CNMI SLDS Program has helped educators transition from manual data collection to an innovative Web-based platform. This platform consolidates data from diverse sources into a user-friendly interface, employing predictive analytics and utilizing student data to assess risk levels based on early warning indicators.

The EWS platform’s User Acceptance Training was started in early summer 2023, then the SLDS Program engaged more than 300 educators in comprehensive training; they saw a platform demonstration in late July.

Elementary educators on Saipan completed their training on Sept. 18, followed by those Tinian on Sept. 25, and on Rota on Sept. 30. The training included PSS departments in Accountability, Research & Evaluation, Office of Curriculum and Instruction, and Student Support Services to implement the Multi-Tiered System of Supports effectively. MTSS is an educational framework designed to holistically address the academic and behavioral needs of students, ensuring academic and behavioral success.

To implement the MTSS effectively, Dr. Rizalina Liwag and Jackie Quitugua, who were the presenters, guided educators during the training sessions. Their expertise and commitment were instrumental in helping elementary educators embrace the MTSS framework.

Sinapalo Elementary School principal Daisy Quitugua said: “The EWS platform saves my staff time, empowering my teachers to provide not only timely interventions but also personalized student support for students…while looking at the whole child and their story.”

Dr. Annette Pladevega-Sablan, SLDS project director, expressed appreciation for the federal grant funding that underpinned this project.

Jeaniffer Cubangbang, SLDS technical manager, also extends her gratitude to DbDriven LLC, a developer in Virginia, for their helping build the EWS platform.

For more information about CNMI SLDS and our initiatives, visit the program website at https://slds.cnmipss.org. (PR)

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