Implementing Stretch Growth®: Proven Achievement Strategies for Educational Leaders

Every student deserves a fair shot at academic success, and those who start below grade level should have a chance to catch up quickly. That’s why I champion Stretch Growth, a game-changing approach to goal setting and instruction that motivates students to exceed average progress and reach proficiency faster. 

Two years ago, we implemented key Stretch Growth strategies at our pre-K–4 elementary school to foster a culture grounded in data-driven decision making. By focusing on accelerated learning, and gently pushing students out of their comfort zones, we are helping more students learn at higher levels.

Understanding Stretch Growth Implementation

According to the i-Ready framework, Stretch Growth is an ambitious but achievable target between the 55th and 80th percentile of national student growth. While Typical Growth tracks average progress, Stretch Growth pushes students—especially those who are behind—to make accelerated gains toward proficiency.

Measuring Stretch Growth Success and Impact

i-Ready national data shows that students reaching Stretch Growth are far more likely to achieve grade-level proficiency within two years. At our school, students made huge strides:

• In Reading: 89 percent of second graders who hit their Stretch Growth goals reached grade-level proficiency after two years—a rate three times higher than that of students who followed a Typical Growth trajectory.
• In Mathematics: 75 percent of fourth graders who achieved their Stretch Growth goal reached proficiency—four times the proportion of those with only Typical Growth.

These results clearly demonstrate that when schools prioritize Stretch Growth, students can make significant academic gains in a shorter time frame.

Best Practices for Stretch Growth Implementation

During our 2023–2024 school year, I was proud to see 40 percent of our students meet their Stretch Growth targets in reading and 37 percent in mathematics—well above the national average of roughly 20 percent within an academic year. Three strategies helped drive our success:

• Personalized Instruction
  We strategically allocate time for i-Ready Personalized Instruction in both reading and mathematics. By ensuring each student works on skills tailored to their individual growth targets, we meet learners exactly where they are and guide them toward grade-level proficiency.
• Accelerating Learning through Scaffolding and Frontloading
  Rather than simply reteaching previous content as a Tier 2 intervention or pulling in resources outside our core curriculum, we focus on scaffolding and frontloading key priority standards connected to our current core instruction. 
  • Scaffolding (effect size .82): We break down complex skills into manageable steps, providing the support and scaffolds necessary for students to access grade-level content.
  • Prerequisite Strategy (effect size .93): We identify and teach essential skills before introducing new concepts, paving the way for more effective engagement with grade-level material.

According to John Hattie, effect size helps us understand the impact of teaching strategies on student achievement. Anything with a .40 or higher is more effective than typical learning progress, while a .60 or higher indicates a strong positive impact on student achievement.

Using i-Ready Standards Mastery as an Instructional Tool

We’ve also started integrating i-Ready Standards Mastery assessments into our planning to ensure students’ progress toward grade-level standards. This helps us:

• Align instruction with priority standards
• Identify learning gaps early on
• Provide targeted, small group instruction

By continuously monitoring progress, our educators adjust their strategies in real time, ensuring students remain on the Stretch Growth trajectory.

Building a Data-Driven Culture to Support Stretch Growth

Leadership is key to sustaining a Stretch Growth mindset. At our school, I’ve worked to establish structures that promote collaboration, reflection, and strategic decision making based on student data. As a result, we’ve implemented the following:

• Daily Common Planning Time
  Our grade-level teams have common planning time five days per week.
• Weekly Admin-Led Planning
  We hold a weekly 40-minute session called “Tiger Time” (because of our mascot) to review data, assess interventions, and support professional learning.
• Morning Collaboration Meetings
  We rotate meetings focused on professional learning communities (PLCs), Multilingual Learners, social-emotional behavior conversations, and grade-level problem solving.
• Weekly Early Release Time
  This time is dedicated to professional learning, committee work, and further PLC meetings.

This intentional scheduling ensures that we continuously reflect on student progress, refine our instructional approaches, and provide every student with the support they need.

Leadership Strategies for Stretch Growth Success

I firmly believe that school leadership has a profound impact on student achievement. Research indicates that principals contribute up to 25 percent to student success, second only to teachers, who account for 33 percent. Effective leaders:

• Establish guiding coalitions to drive meaningful change
• Communicate a clear vision for improvement
• Use data-driven decision making to refine instructional strategies
• Support ongoing professional learning and collaboration

Our collective commitment to these principles has not only boosted student achievement but also earned us recognition as an i-Ready Super Stretch School.

Achieving Stretch Growth is not an overnight process; it requires intentional and deliberate planning. By adopting these promising practices, schools can empower students to meet and exceed grade-level expectations, closing learning gaps faster than traditional models allow. As educators, embracing an aspirational mindset is essential to ensuring every student has the opportunity to thrive.

For more on Stretch Growth goals in schools, check out i-Ready Super Stretch Schools.

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More Resources for You:
Addressing Unfinished Learning with Stretch Growth Goals
How Portland Public Schools Achieved Great Success
Celebrating Student Growth and Learning