School test scores improved; math proficiency still low
11:01 AM Thu, Jan 22, 2009 | Permalink
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By Jennifer Jordan PROVIDENCE -- State and education officials this morning released the latest round of test scores, which show improvement across all grade levels in both reading and math, but which continue a worrying pattern of extremely low math proficiency for high school students. The results of the New England Common Assessment Program (NECAP) administered to more than 89,000 elementary, middle and high school students last October, were released by Governor Carcieri and state Education Commissioner Peter McWalters at 11 a.m. at the Statehouse. Students in grades 3 through 8 improved by 3 percentage points over the previous year in reading, with 68 percent demonstrating proficiency, and they improved 3 points in mathematics, with 57 percent proficient. High school results also showed improvement, but math scores remained dismally low. The math test is tough -- scoring proficient is roughly the equivalent of a B+, say education officials. But that is the level of math proficiency in algebra, geometry and some trigonometry students need today to compete globally, officials say. They said they were pleased with the steady progress, but acknowledged the state must do more to strengthen math education. Over the four years elementary and middle school students have taken the NECAP, scores have risen 10 percentage points in reading and 7 in math. The test is administered jointly with New Hampshire and Vermont. This fall, Maine will join in the elementary and middle school tests. "The results today show improving scores for all grades, all tests and all student groups," McWalters said. "Like our other NECAP partners in New Hampshire and Vermont, I remain concerned about the high school mathematics scores. We are working with colleagues in higher education to improve the mathematics curriculum and instructional practices across the state, which should lead to continued improvements in the high school scores." Reports on the test results are posted on the RIDE Web site. 
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This should be great. When the scores go up even a little, the teachers come out in droves taking all the credit and saying their salaries and benefits are deserved and we should stop picking on them. When the scores are down, it's not their fault because parents should be more involved. I am waiting to hear from a teacher's union member thanking the parents from responding as a result of last year's horrible scores. STILL WAITING!!!
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Thank a teacher!!!
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Hmmm... A full time salary for working half a year.
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It's amazing what 'teaching to the test'will accomplish.
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It used to be if one scored 70% they got a "C". but now the students get 68 or 23 and they are doing good?? How can that be? With a 27 proficient in math they can't be doing well. I don't care this is a 5 point jump the students are still failing in this author's eyes.
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This is pathetic! Those are the test scores in math and the teachers want raises?! They should start giving merit based raises to teachers. If the students perform well they get a raise, if not they don't. Oh. Wait. Can't do that...union wouldn't stand for it.
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My wife is a teacher, she works well past the end of the school day. She puts in several hours at night and on weekends. She uses her "own" money for some classroom supplies that help all the children. Don't blames teachers for RHODE ISLANDS money problems. It's easy to blame when you don't know all the facts. Believe it or not we pay taxes and have bills just like everyone else. No special rates for teachers, cops, or firemen.
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If you want to have summers off, it't simple. Go to college for 4-6 yrs. earn your Master Degree then apply to your local community and become low paid, highly respected teacher until the community you work for blames all of its fiscal problems on you. And when your child fails to do its homework and the parents dont care! It's simple, blame his or her teacher. Once you reach top step on the pay scale after 15-20 yrs. of teaching, have the RI Government come in and change your retirement package without any input from your Union. I know all of you out there would gladly give up time and money that you have earned over the years. NOT! Instead of blaming the teachers all of the time why not just say THANK YOU once in a while.
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Notice the High School math scores are in the toilet? The dirty little secret is that Rhode Island embraced an ideologically driven math curriculum called constructivist math a few years ago. The curriculum abandons tried and true methods of learning math in favor of the absurd notion that young children should be learning math abstraction rather than math fundamentals. The results of this catastrophic curriculum do not show up until High School because until then the tests account for constructivist math, but once in High School students have to grasp algebra and such, but they lack the tools to figure it out. Don't be fooled by the 70% proficieny rates prior to High School. They are not real...the 30% proficiency is the true indication of how poorly our children are being taught math.
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