AMS Turkey Trot, AUSD Vital Signs, 2026–27 Calendar, ICE Activity Hotline, & Staff Recognitions 

Dear Albany Community, 

The weather was beautiful on Tuesday for the annual AMS Turkey Trot. It’s a mile race run separately for each grade level during school hours. Spirits were high and students were cheered by their peers, whether they came in first or last. My sincere appreciation to all the AMS teachers for helping with this big event, and especially the AMS PE teachers for the incredible organization it takes to manage a race involving hundreds of students!

AUSD Vital Signs

At this week’s Board meeting, we shared our fall “Vital Signs”—key data indicating how students are performing academically, socially, and emotionally, as well as the effectiveness of our support for high-quality learning across the district. These results guide our work to ensure every student in Albany Unified feels connected, supported, and challenged every day.

How Our Students Are Achieving

Overall, AUSD students continue to perform at high levels:

• 77% of students in grades 3–11 met or exceeded standards in English Language Arts

• 68% met or exceeded standards in Math

• Multilingual Learners made strong growth in ELA (+7 percentage points)

• Latina/o/e students grew significantly in ELA (+12.3 DFS)

• Our district earned Green/Blue, the two highest performance levels, on all seven California Dashboard indicators

These are accomplishments we are proud of and want to continue building on.

Where We Need to Grow

Some student groups are not experiencing the same level of success:

• 43% of Black students in the tested grades are proficient in English Language Arts

• Only 13% of Multilingual Learners in grades 6–8 are reading at or above benchmark

• Reading data shows fewer students with disabilities and socioeconomically disadvantaged students meeting early literacy benchmarks

• English Learner progress on the Dashboard declined slightly

These differences highlight where we must focus our efforts so that every student has access to strong instruction and the support they need to grow.

Student Belonging and Well-Being

We know students do better in school when they feel like they belong, have friends, and trust the adults around them. Belonging helps students attend school more regularly, try new things, and stay engaged.

The Good News

• Attendance has improved over the past three years

• Suspension rates remain low (between 1–2%)

• Students report stronger relationships with caring adults on campus
  
  

Where We Still Have Work to Do

• Attendance has not yet returned to pre-pandemic levels

• Students with disabilities, Latina/o/e students, and Black/African American students are more often chronically absent

• Students with disabilities are suspended at higher rates than other students

We want every child to feel seen, welcomed, and supported each day.

What We’re Focusing On in 2025–26

To support both academic growth and belonging, AUSD will prioritize:

Strengthening Early Literacy

• Piloting new evidence-based literacy programs in Pre-K, TK, and K–5

• Increasing progress monitoring to make sure students get timely support

• Ensuring small-group differentiated instruction (WIN Time) is used effectively for all students
  
  

Supporting Outstanding Instruction

• Helping teachers plan together and use shared routines and strategies

• Building a districtwide Vision for Math Instruction
  
  

Improving Belonging and Behavior Supports

• Strengthening restorative practices to keep students in class

• Reviewing suspension data to understand and address root causes

• Improving our student support (COST) systems to respond quickly and consistently when students need help
  
  

In Partnership With You

We are proud of our students’ accomplishments and grateful for the partnership of families, staff, and the Albany community. At the same time, we remain committed to addressing inequities so all students can thrive. Your questions, feedback, and involvement are essential as we continue this work together.

For more information, please visit the AUSD website to see the full Vital Signs presentation and state Dashboard results.

2026–27 School Year Calendar

The Board of Education passed the Academic Calendar for 2026–27 at Tuesday’s meeting. Next year, school will begin on Wednesday,, August 12, 2026.

ICE Activity & Hotline

The Alameda County Immigration Legal Education Partnership (ACILEP) confirmed ICE activity earlier today at Cherryland Elementary School in Hayward. You can receive their updates by visiting their website, linked above, or following them on Facebook or Instagram. Please see this message for detailed information and resources about AUSD’s stance as a Safe Haven. 

Staff Spotlights

We are recognizing Pam Lim-McAlister, Head of the AHS World Languages department and beloved Spanish teacher. Ms. Lim-McAlister, affectionately known as “Profe”, won the 2024 NBC Sports Bay Area All-Star Teacher of the Year, bringing a prize of $30,000 to Albany High School. Her energy and positive attitude continue unabated. “Aside from being a great teacher, Pam goes above and beyond to support our department, the students, and the staff. She is highly dedicated to teaching and serving her students and the community.”

AMS Day Custodian Nik Williams was also recognized for his incredible work ethic, his care and concern for students, and his professionalism. AMS staff say that Nik is a fantastic person and coworker. “He welcomes you with a smile and always has something nice to say. He works so hard to keep our school clean and organized.” To be nominated by your colleagues is an honor, and Mr. Williams has been nominated by multiple people—a testament to the excellence he brings to his position. Congratulations! 

Calendar Highlights: 

Please see messages from your school for complete information about events. 

• November 24–28: NO SCHOOL, Thanksgiving Holiday

• December 3: AMS Choir Concert, 7pm, AHS Little Theater

• December 4: AHS Choirs Winter Concert, 7pm, AHS Little Theater

• December 8: AMS Cobra Band Concert, 7pm, AHS Little Theater

• December 9: AMS 7th/8th Grade Band Concert, 7pm, AHS Little Theater

• December 9: Regular Board Meeting

• December 10: AHS/AMS Orchestra Concert, 7pm, AHS Little Theater

• December 11: AHS Bands Winter Concert, 7pm, AHS Little Theater

• December 22–January 2: NO SCHOOL, December Holiday

Sincerely, 

Sara Stone

Superintendent

Albany Unified School District