News
Release of student testing reports delayed
Test scores based on new state
standards
August 26, 2010
According to the state education department,
the 2010 individual student reports (ISRs) – which include the 2010
English and math state assessment scores for each student in grades
3-8 – will be sent to parents in late September/early October. It
was originally reported that they would be released in late August.
This past July, the
state released the proficiency rates on these
exams for districts across New York. These results showed a sharp
decline from recent years in the number of students considered to be
“passing” the exams – not because student performance decreased but
because the state has significantly changed its standards.
Earlier in the summer,
state officials announced that they were
increasing the scoring targets (or “cut scores”) on the exams after
research showed that a large percentage of New York’s students were
not adequately prepared for college. This announcement came months
after the exams were completed this past spring.
With this change, students had to score
higher on the exams then they did in previous years in order to be
considered proficient. For example, a third grader in 2009 had to
score a 650 on the English exam to meet the standard. This year,
third graders had to score at least a 662.
Mohonasen Superintendent Dr. Kathleen Spring said this change
doesn’t mean that students are learning less than in previous years.
“We were expecting to see a drop in the passing rate because of the
higher cut scores set by the state.
However, a review of our data
shows that the average scores earned by our students stayed about
the same across the board,” Spring said.
“It’s important that parents and students understand that student
performance is not on the decline, the bar has just been set
higher,” she added. “It’s clear that we need to analyze exactly what
these scores are telling us and step up our game.” See more about
raising the bar.
On the English exam, 53 percent of students statewide and 54 percent
of Mohonasen students reached proficiency. In math, the numbers were
61 percent statewide and 65 percent at Mohonasen.
By contrast, in 2009, 77 percent of students statewide and at
Mohonasen were considered proficient in English. In math, 86 percent
statewide and at Mohonasen reached proficiency.
Click here to compare proficiency rates by grade level – and to
compare average scale scores. The scale score is essentially the
grade that each student receives on each exam.
Extra help available
Under the state’s testing system, the scale
scores are used to classify students into one of four performance
levels, with those achieving at Level 3 or 4 meeting or exceeding
proficiency and those scoring at a Level 1 or 2 falling below the
proficiency standard.
Students who do not reach proficiency on the exam are typically
entitled to receive Academic Intervention Services (AIS). Yet,
because the Board of Regents anticipated such a shift statewide and
was concerned about the costs it would carry, it has amended AIS
requirements for the coming year to give districts some flexibility.
That said, Spring said Mohonasen will be offering services to any
student who needs them.
Parents who have questions about their child’s report should call
their building principal or Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum,
Patrick McGrath (356-8205).
