TTUSD District Update

• A New Era for Math: Truckee High and the Carnegie Curriculum

• Empowering Every Learner: A Look Inside TTUSD's Alternative Education Programs

• California School Dashboard Highlights Successes and Opportunities

• Empowering English Learners to Soar

• Academic Achievement Tip | CAASPP Success: How Families Can Help!

• Anxious Nation Documentary Screenings: Join the Conversation

• The Nurtured Heart Approach | Free Parent Workshops

• Hope Week: Spreading Light and Connection in TTUSD

• Transportation Tips | Sharing the Road

• Social Emotional Learning Tip | Repairing Relationships & Making Amends

• Measure AA’s Community Powered Impacts

• Ex in Ed Awards | Nominate Exceptional TTUSD Staff Now!

• Youth Voices Lead the Way: 2025 CCTT Youth Forum

• TTUSD Student Voice Shapes CA Education Policy!

• Upcoming Important Dates

Dear TTUSD Families,

As we look back on our recent February break, I sincerely thank you for your ongoing support and for prioritizing student attendance. This year was the first time we implemented our adjusted February break schedule, and we always intended to review the results to ensure we're doing what's best for our students.

So, our team looked closely at key data points to make sure the new schedule didn’t create unintended consequences. We examined:

• Student Attendance: We were happy to see student attendance stay strong on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, with rates consistent with our typical attendance patterns. There was no increase in absences!

• Independent Study Requests: We didn’t see a big jump in independent study requests. This is good news because we want to make sure the schedule change didn’t add extra work for our teachers. We love that families can use independent studies, but we also know it takes extra time for teachers.

• Bus Route Impacts: Even with a big snowstorm right before the break, bringing more traffic to our area, TTUSD buses ran smoothly. Kids got to school and home on time.

Based on this data, we’re confident the adjusted February break schedule is working for students and staff while giving us more flexibility with snow days. We will share our findings with the calendar committee, who will meet this year to review everything. However, based on this data, we don’t expect changes to the approved 2025-2026 calendar.

Thank you again for your partnership as we strive to make data-informed decisions that best serve our students.

Warm Regards,
Kerstin Kramer
Superintendent Chief Learning Officer

We continue to make significant strides in our District Strategic Plan and are eager to share an update on a few action items.

We’re supporting the refinement of academic discourse strategy implementation by utilizing a calibrated walkthrough tool for data collection, which supports site Plan-Do-Study-Act (PDSA) cycles of inquiry. This data supports administrators to empower teachers to facilitate rich academic discussions where students use academic language, listen actively, and build on each other through clarification and supporting evidence.

North Tahoe School (NTS) is a leader in this area, particularly with its evolving Learning Walks. NTS teachers observe colleagues' classrooms to share best practices and learn new ones—it's about learning, not evaluation. Observed teachers receive feedback, and the visitors get to take away Academic Discourse strategies to transfer to their classrooms.

At the March 5th board meeting, Truckee High School (THS) shared how they're improving math education. They highlighted their first year using the new Carnegie math curriculum (Strategic Plan Action Item 1.1.1), focusing on helping all students succeed. Principal John Neuberger, math teacher Jody Burrill, and college counselor Scott Delgado showed how they use data to improve learning for every student.

A central focus was on implementing the Carnegie math curriculum and its companion AI tool, Mathia. Mathia adjusts to each student's needs, providing extra help or practice when needed. It's also available in Spanish, which removes barriers for our English Learners.

Mrs. Burrill explained how real-time data from online assessments empowers teachers to tailor instruction, identify student-specific areas for improvement, and provide immediate feedback. The school is working to close the gap for Hispanic students by providing extra support and utilizing these tools.

To help families plan for high school math, THS presented various math pathways in an easy-to-read chart. They also discussed the importance of a balanced approach to math, encouraging deep understanding over rapid acceleration to foster long-term success and prevent burnout.

The showcase underscored THS's dedication to providing all Wolverines an enriching education that prepares them for college and careers in the modern era. By integrating cutting-edge technology and data-driven instruction, THS is equipping students with the skills and knowledge to thrive in higher education and the rapidly evolving landscape of 21st-century careers. They're making sure every Wolverine has the chance to do their best, both academically and in the world beyond the classroom.

At the March 19, 2025, Board meeting, Principal Jeff Santos highlighted the vital role of our alternative education programs: Sierra Continuation High School (SHS), Cold Stream Alternative, and the Truckee River Program. These programs provide unique learning pathways for students whose needs extend beyond the traditional high school setting.

The California School Dashboard, released in December, is an online tool that shows how our schools are doing. It uses a color-coded system (red to blue) to measure key areas like academics, attendance, English Learner progress, college readiness, and graduation rates. This year, the Dashboard includes new Growth Scores, giving insights into student progress in English Language Arts (ELA) and Math.

We're pleased to report that our students, on average, scored 5 points above typical growth in ELA and 6 points above typical growth in Math.

At the December 18th board meeting, Assistant Superintendent of Educational Services Shaun Roderick, reviewed our latest Dashboard results and shared some key takeaways and plans for improvement:

• Graduation Rates: We're focusing on helping students graduate on time by addressing credit deficiencies early. This includes advocating for students to take advantage of our summer credit recovery courses.

• College and Career Readiness: We're working to identify more work-based learning opportunities for students.

• Supporting Students: With help from the Placer County Office of Education (PCOE), we'll continue to support our socioeconomically disadvantaged (SED), special education (SPED), and English learners (EL) students.

• Data-Driven Improvement: We'll prioritize reviewing data throughout the year to adjust our strategies to help students in real time.

The Dashboard allows us to identify our strengths and areas for growth, driving continuous progress.

We're proud to celebrate the major improvements of our English Learners (ELs) in the latest CA Dashboard results! Their journey to the "blue" category, the Dashboard’s highest ranking, which shows an increase in testing scores, is a testament to their hard work and the dedication of our educators. It also results from a strategic focus on initiatives such as academic discourse and incorporating new, targeted strategies. These strategies were focused on setting the stage for success on the English Language Proficiency Assessments for California (ELPAC), a state-mandated test used to determine and monitor the English language proficiency of students whose primary language is not English.

Some of these strategies included:

• Deep Dives and Goal Setting: We provided ELPAC deep dives, learning test strategies, and content areas. Students analyzed past ELPAC results and set personalized, data-driven goals.

• Targeted Instruction: We delivered focused instruction to EL standards. Students practiced specific skills measured on the ELPAC.

• Confident Navigation: We shared strategies to navigate the ELPAC format and question types.

• Understanding the "Why": We talked about the purpose and importance of the ELPAC, building student understanding and motivation.

This progress demonstrates the power of focused effort and the dedication of our TTUSD community.

You’re invited to screenings of "Anxious Nation," a documentary addressing rising anxiety levels in our youth. This important film sheds light on the widespread issue of anxiety and offers insights into coping strategies. It’s a crucial opportunity to understand the challenges many face and to foster open conversations about mental well-being within your family. Screenings include a panel discussion.

• Tuesday, April 8th, 5:30-7:30 pm at North Tahoe High School

• Spanish subtitles and interpretation will be available at this screening

• Thursday, April 10th, 5:30-7:30 pm at Truckee High School

The event is recommended for parents and students 12+. All are welcome, and we strongly encourage you to attend with your child to start or continue these vital conversations.

This April, we're pleased to offer another FREE parent workshop series on the Nurtured Heart Approach (NHA), continuing our commitment to providing families with this valuable resource. NHA is a proven method for nurturing self-regulation and positive behavior.

Learn easy-to-use tools for positive recognition and setting clear expectations to improve your child's behavior and self-esteem while strengthening your relationship.

During an impactful week in March, TTUSD schools participated in our annual Hope Week. This powerful initiative, dedicated to mental health awareness and suicide prevention, brought our community together through a series of engaging events and activities in all of our K-12 schools.

The week began with screenings of “Feel It All,” a film chronicling professional skier Drew Petersen's journey through depression. The screenings were held at Truckee High School and North Tahoe High School and were followed by Drew's inspiring keynote address on mental health in mountain communities. Drew also visited North Tahoe School and Alder Creek Middle School to speak to students and spread the message of hope.

Throughout the week, our dedicated Hope Squad students led various activities, turning our schools into beacons of support. Through beautiful messages of hope displayed in hallway art projects, signage, and paper chains, students found meaningful ways to connect and spread positivity. Advisory classes hosted vital mental health presentations, opening up conversations about well-being.

Hope Week is a powerful reminder of the strength of our community. We build a brighter, more supportive environment by sharing hope and fostering connection. We’re incredibly proud of our students and staff for their dedication to mental health awareness and commitment to building a culture of care.

Our community's continued investment in Measure AA directly enriches students' educational experiences throughout our district. This vital funding, made possible by our collective commitment, allows us to provide opportunities that would otherwise be beyond reach.

At the recent Measure AA Citizens Oversight Committee meeting, we heard inspiring stories from Tahoe Lake Elementary (TLE) and our Alternative Education programs, showcasing the real-world benefits of these funds.

April 3 | Kings Beach Elementary TK/K Preview Night

April 3 | Alder Creek Middle School 5th Grade Parent Orientation Night

April 4 | Community Arts Showcase featuring THS, ACMS, GES students

April 10 | North Tahoe High School Open House

April 14-18 | Spring Break, No School

April 23 | School Bus Driver Day

April 29 | Measure AA Citizens Oversight Committee Meeting

May 1 | Alder Creek Middle School Open House

May 1 | Glenshire Elementary Spring Performance

May 2-4, 9-10 | Truckee High School Spring Musical

May 5-9 | National Teacher Appreciation Week

May 6 | North Tahoe School Open House

May 7 | National School Lunch Hero Day

May 8 | Truckee Elementary School Open House

May 14 | CA Teacher Day

May 14 & 15 | Truckee High School Movie Concert

May 18-24 | Classified Staff Appreciation Week

May 26 | Memorial Day Holiday, No School

May 27 | Truckee High School Evening of Excellence

May 30 | North Tahoe High School Prom

May 31 | Truckee High School Prom