At ITCA, Student Growth Drives Success on Idaho’s Reading Benchmarks 

At Idaho Technical Career Academy (ITCA), success in reading isn’t measured by perfection — it’s measured by growth. For English teacher Rozanne Clark, helping students gain confidence and steadily improve their skills is just as important as preparing them for the state’s standardized tests. 

“Some of our students come to us saying, ‘I can’t read well’ or ‘I’m just not good at this,’” Clark said. “My job is to help them discover that they can do it, and to give them small successes that build into bigger ones.” 

That philosophy pays off. According to the Idaho State Department of Education’s official Idaho Report Card, ITCA has consistently met or exceeded the state’s English Language Arts/Literacy targets for 11th graders. In fact, Clark noted that in many years the school’s scores have been right at or above the state average. 

ITCA uses Renaissance Star 360 assessments three times a year for 9-11th graders. These tests not only track whether a student’s score is improving but also break down results by individual standards. That allows teachers like Clark to see exactly where a student is excelling and where they need support. 

From there, she taps into tools like Nearpod — which integrates directly with the assessment data — to deliver targeted lessons. Whether working one-on-one or with an entire class, she can quickly create customized activities that strengthen specific skills. 

Meeting Students Where They Are 

As in many schools, not every student arrives at ITCA on grade level. Some are behind in reading, some are advanced, and many fall somewhere in between. Clark emphasizes flexibility: students can read assigned texts or, if that’s too challenging, listen to them instead. 

“Research shows that listening and reading activate the brain in similar ways, especially if you’re following along,” she said. “What matters most is that students can process the information and engage with it.” 

This approach ensures that every student — whether struggling or thriving — can access the curriculum and make progress. 

Confidence as a Path to Achievement 

Clark recalled a student who had never earned a perfect score. After meeting every goal on a writing task, he finally did. “I’ve never got 100% on anything before,” he said. “And I never get a good grade on reading or writing.” 

Moments like that can change a student’s self-perception.  

“When they start to experience success, they stop saying, ‘I can’t.’ Instead, they start saying, ‘I’ll give it a try,’” Clark said. 

Ultimately, ITCA students must demonstrate proficiency on the Idaho Standards Achievement Test (ISAT) in 11th grade. But Clark emphasizes that the focus isn’t just on test prep. It’s about developing the skills that tests measure: comprehension, analysis, and clear communication. 

By blending state standards with real-world applications and career pathways, ITCA ensures students are not only test-ready but also life-ready. 

“Our bottom line is student growth,” Clark said. “We want them to learn, to succeed, and to believe in themselves. The test scores take care of themselves when that happens.”