Austin Public Schools
Austin, MN
Austin Public Schools (APS) is a midsize district in southeastern Minnesota serving around 5,200 PK–12 students. Committed to equity and academic excellence, APS supports a diverse student body through data-driven instruction, inclusive practices, and strong community partnerships to ensure success in college, career, and life.
Educational success isn’t just about delivering lessons; it’s about creating an environment where data-driven insights empower educators and students alike. At Austin Public Schools (APS) in Minnesota, the integration of Renaissance solutions has proven to be a game-changer. By strategically implementing a suite of tools—including Star Assessments, FastBridge, and eduCLIMBER—into their multi-tiered system of support (MTSS), APS is leading the way in fostering meaningful growth for their diverse student population.
Here’s how APS’s partnership with Renaissance has evolved, enabling extraordinary results and setting the stage for even greater success.
The pathway to Renaissance
Corey Haugen, Director of Information Services at APS, has been with the district for nearly 30 years, wearing many different hats during his tenure. Starting as a grade 8 math teacher, Haugen has also served as Data Assessment Coach, Instructional Technology Coach, Director of Technology, and Director of Research Evaluation & Assessment, among others. His deep understanding of instructional and data needs has driven the district’s commitment to adopting innovative solutions. The partnership with Renaissance began when APS needed a robust and unified assessment tool to support their district assessment program and MTSS framework.
“In 2022, we evaluated nine different assessment vendors and selected Renaissance for its unified environment and ability to seamlessly integrate Star Assessments with our intervention programs. The tools don’t just collect data; they inform instruction in a way that’s meaningful and actionable for our teachers.”
Corey Haugen, Director of Information Services at APS
APS initially implemented Star Assessments and FastBridge to address critical challenges, such as aligning assessments with Minnesota State Standards and meeting the requirements of the Minnesota READ Act. This marked the beginning of a data-driven shift in how the district approached instruction, intervention, and student support.
Leveraging the Renaissance ecosystem
APS has fully embraced the Renaissance ecosystem to transform its approach to teaching and learning at all levels:
- Star Assessments data provides valuable insight into student growth and proficiency in reading and mathematics. These computer-adaptive tests are utilized multiple times throughout the year to guide both classroom instruction and district-wide strategies.
- FastBridge focuses on quick, efficient progress monitoring for reading fluency through Curriculum-Based Measures (CBMs). It has played a pivotal role in helping APS meet mandatory benchmarks outlined by the Minnesota READ Act.
- eduCLIMBER is APS’s latest addition—a tool that integrates assessment and intervention data into one cohesive platform. This enables teachers and MTSS teams to track intervention effectiveness and ensure fidelity in implementation. According to Haugen, “eduCLIMBER works perfectly with our MTSS process by providing longitudinal data and intervention tracking at a level we’ve never had before.”
“The [Renaissance] platform is incredibly user-friendly and delivers detailed reports and data dashboards almost immediately after assessments are completed, allowing teachers to access real-time information. This ease of access supports timely collaboration between teachers and coaches, helping us identify where students need targeted support, adjust instructional strategies, and group students for differentiated instruction.”
Katie Keller, Instructional Coach at Sumner Elementary
A unified approach to data
One standout feature of the Renaissance ecosystem is the integration across tools, which streamlines operations for both administrators and teachers. This consolidation has been critical to APS’s success.
“Our teachers love Star’s State Standards Mastery – Class Report, which shows actionable benchmarks that align with Minnesota standards,” Haugen emphasizes. “It helps them focus their instruction on areas where students need the most support.”
The district also reduced its intervention catalog from more than 80 programs to a focused set of Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3 interventions. This streamlining effort ensures fidelity of implementation and reduces inefficiencies in resource allocation.
Keller adds, “As an instructional coach, I’ve found that Renaissance Star and FastBridge student assessment and progress monitoring data provides both coaches and teachers with valuable insights into student performance, growth, and specific skill gaps.”
Professional development as a catalyst for change
APS’s commitment to professional development (PD) has been another driving factor in the district’s success. With the inclusion of PD from Renaissance, teachers and staff have gained valuable training on maximizing the tools’ potential.
“The Educator Insight Days provided by Renaissance have been incredible. These opportunities help us learn to use the tools effectively but also exchange ideas with other districts using the same systems. This collaborative experience is irreplaceable.”
Corey Haugen, Director of Information Services at APS
The district’s focus on building data literacy among educators ensures that tools like Star and FastBridge are being used to their fullest potential. This prioritization of professional growth helps teachers make informed decisions that drive student success.
Gains and successes
Since implementing the Renaissance ecosystem, APS has reported remarkable improvements in student growth and instructional efficiency. Some of their key successes include:
- Reading growth in grades 2–8: The district observed significant increases in student reading proficiency, with the percentage of students meeting grade-level benchmarks increasing from 33.7% in winter 2022‒2023 to 47.8% in 2024‒2025. During this same period, the percentage of students requiring urgent reading intervention decreased from 39.1% to 23.6%. Students also experienced consistent growth in Student Growth Percentiles (SGPs). This growth demonstrates that students who may not yet be proficient are moving closer to closing learning gaps.
- Improved intervention practices: With streamlined tools and a focused MTSS process, APS has enhanced the consistency and effectiveness of interventions district wide, as shown in the increasing percentage of students achieving grade-level benchmarks.
- Data-driven decision making: Renaissance tools provide actionable insights at the classroom, school, and district levels, ensuring that administrators and teachers have a clear understanding of areas for improvement.
What’s next? A vision for the future
APS isn’t stopping here. The district has ambitious plans for leveraging the full Renaissance ecosystem to further enhance its MTSS framework. APS is currently onboarding Freckle and Lalilo to support purposeful practice in ELA and math, further ensuring that every student gets the support they need to thrive.
Their broader vision includes continuing to refine intervention practices, increasing support for teacher training, and exploring ways to integrate technology even further into their instructional strategies. Haugen sums it up best by saying, “Together, APS and Renaissance will continue to innovate, ensuring that every learner receives the support and opportunities they deserve.”
APS’s partnership with Renaissance is a true testament to the power of data-driven education. Their strategic implementation of Star Assessments, FastBridge, and eduCLIMBER has helped empower educators, improve student outcomes, and create a culture of continuous growth.
For districts exploring how to consolidate their assessment and MTSS tools, APS provides a compelling example of how aligning processes with intuitive technology can make a meaningful difference.
Want to learn how your district can achieve similar success? Contact Renaissance to get started.