Students in grades three through eight demonstrated a decline in proficiency in English and math this year, according to test results released by the New York State Education Department on July 26. That doesn’t necessarily mean their performance declined, though. The decline was a result of the state upping the standard of what it means to be proficient by raising the cut scores on tests.
`We are doing a great disservice when we say that a child is proficient when that child is not,` said Chancellor Merryl H. Tisch in a statement.
Superintendents from school districts across the county and the state are saying the change is unfair to their students because in many cases, students scored just as high this year as other years, but they were deemed not proficient because of the new cut scores.
`It’s real important to note this didn’t happen overnight; all of a sudden our kids are achieving standards and then nobody is. It’s about how it’s measured,` said Joseph Dragone, Ballston Spa superintendent. `I’m all about higher standards and support the notion that we’re raising the standards, but I don’t necessarily agree with the process it went through this year.`
Shenendehowa Superintendent L. Oliver Robinson said the changes by the state are unfair and that `changing the rules after the game is over` doesn’t reflect what students are learning, according to the district.
`The simple fact that SED can just manipulate the cut scores to show increased failure, shows that it is not a reflection of learning,` said Robinson in a statement. `Further, the utter chaos due to the change in scoring practices places parents and schools in a tailspin trying to ascertain what the tests really demonstrate.`
According to NYSED, cut scores for English and math assessments were set according to new proficiency standards `redefined to align them with college-ready performance.` Cut scores are used to group students in four levels of performance. Students must score within level 3 or 4 to meet proficiency standards and those scoring in level 1 or 2 typically receive extra help. The official break down is, Level 1 are not meeting learning standards; level 2 are partially meeting learning standards; level 3 are meeting learning standards; and level 4 are meeting learning standards with distinction, according to information from NYSED. Raising the cut score for level 3 means that fewer students scored at that level.
In grades three through eight statewide, 53 percent of students in English and 61 percent in math met or exceeded new proficiency standards in 2010. In 2009, 77 percent met or exceeded standards in English and 86 did so in math, according to NYSED.
Schools districts in the region are scrambling to respond to the changes and figure out a way to help students adjust.
`Using the analogy of a high jumper, we could say that the great majority of Burnt Hills children have been successful up to now at clearing the state standard of a 4-foot high jump,` said Superintendent Jim Schultz in a statement. `But starting in 2010, the state is saying that in order to be successful in 21st century jobs and life, students need to be able to clear a 5-foot high jump. In short, the student performance bar has been raised, and schools are working to respond.`
In response, the BH-BL school district’s primary plan is to continue to monitor the progress of individual students, said Communications Specialist Christy Multer. She said in addition to the district’s efforts, things can be done at home to help students improve.
`One thing for parents to understand is there’s a broad range of things both parents and teachers can do to help kids improve their English and math abilities, and one is to just have a home that’s rich in reading materials and where there are lots of books and reading that takes place,` said Multer. `This is a challenge for everyone but also a maturational process as kids grow older. It’s not about judging kids, it’s about understanding their strengths and helping them develop in areas where they’re weak.`
Dragone said it’s been the district’s mission since day one to support and encourage the achievement of its students and it will continue to do so, even amidst the period of change.
`We support higher standards with our programs and hold them to higher standards in all the work we do. We have a new baseline and we’ll just keep moving forward,` said Dragone. `We offer academic support and resources all the time to all kids that need help. We target services down to the individual student and we’ll continue to do that.`
All districts are encouraging parents who may be concerned or have questions to contact the district or a teacher. For more information about the change to cut scores and what this year’s testing results were, visit www.nysed.gov.
“
