Hays sets four-year math goals for at-risk third- and fourth-graders, with funding at stake

What happened

The district has submitted a state-required four-year accountability plan targeting at-risk, non-special-education third- and fourth-graders for math support. It tracks about 70 third-graders and 83 fourth-graders, aiming to reduce the share scoring at the lowest math level by the time they reach sixth and seventh grade.

Why it matters to families

Hays receives about $4 million in at-risk funding. Staff said the state could cut that funding by half if one cohort misses its goal, or eliminate the at-risk allocation if both cohorts miss; the district will report progress annually and evaluate outcomes in 2030.

The evidence

At the Nov. 2, 2026 board meeting, staff said the plan had been submitted to the state for a compliance review. The district selected at-risk, non-special-education third- and fourth-grade cohorts (about 70 and 83 students) and set math goals to reduce the share scoring at level one by sixth and seventh grade. Staff said the district receives around $4 million in at-risk funding and described possible funding reductions if the cohorts do not meet their goals. The presentation was informational; no board vote on the plan was recorded.

The source