Test Scores Show Room for Improvement

During the Board of Education business meeting August 16, board members heard from school principals regarding end of course test scores from the previous (2015-2016) school year.

There was not much good reported overall from the principals during their presentations, however the data did show that most of Jasper County students were at or above the state average scores. Test scores were lower overall with the best results coming out of Jasper County Primary School (JCPS) that did not give the same tests as the upper level schools.

Each administrator explained what the scores were in comparison with state averages and explained processes that are being implemented in order to fill the gaps in individual areas.

There was much discussion amongst board members, particularly Dr. Shannon Barton, Board Chair and board member Bobby Norris, as to the tests and asked, “Is this an adequate measure of how our kids are performing?” “And does it reflect the grades that the teachers give?”

There were different answers to these questions such as “not always,” and “while there are some students’ scores that shock you, the majority of the tests do not measure how well our students are performing.”

Jasper County High School (JCHS) Principal, Camille Murner, was the first to present and she told the board that at the high school there had been growth in math, especially in the developing areas.

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She said that any score that is a 70 and above is passing, according to the state. Ms. Murner explained that biology scores were above state average and that “there are phenomenal teachers in that area and they are doing what they love and are there to do.” She noted that physical science, however, was lacking and that there would be a change in teachers in physical science.

Ms. Murner commended the growth in U.S. History and showed that they had an increase even without the Advanced Placement (AP) students included. She noted that eight AP students passed the AP exams out of 15 this year, where typically there are one or two that pass the AP exam in history.

Ms. Murner explained that there had been growth in economics, but that JCHS students were not at the state average. She explained that as a way to improve that score, students would get economics in two semesters going forward with Microeconomics and Macroeconomics being broken out into a semester each.

She also informed the board that there had been a financial literacy class added so that students could learn about actual application, such as those that pertain to banking and mortgages.

In conclusion, Ms. Murner explained that there was a slight decrease in the EOC scores for ninth grade literature and that she was working with Cheryl Marrett, Principal at Jasper County Middle School (JCMS) as to how to increase those scores.

Next, Ms. Marrett presented her scores to the board starting with a positive that although her students had lower English Language Arts (ELA) scores than the state, the math scores were one percent higher than others state-wide.

Ms. Marrett then took the grade levels and broke them out starting with sixth grade and stated that 40 percent of the ELA students scored a three or a four (a two is considered a 70 on EOC tests) and that average was higher than the state average. She said that math showed a four percent increase over last year’s scores. Social Studies scores were the weakness in sixth grade according to Ms. Marrett. She said that the positive scores are accredited to “strong teams of teachers that collaborate to make themselves and the students better.”

In seventh grade, score in ELA, math, and science were all below the state average. The seventh grade scores were also all below the target scores that were set by the school. There were increases in percentages overall compared to last year’s ELA, math and social studies scores.

Eighth grade ECO tests showed lower than state averages in ELA, math and social studies. The science scores were 12 percent above the state average. When looking at the numbers Ms. Marrett said that seven percent of eighth graders scores reflected “not developing,” and she said, “this shows that our kids are not ready.”

As a way to improve all scores Ms. Marrett and her faculty have made several changes. They have reduced class sizes to make helping individuals or small groups with more attention or acceleration more of a focus. She also said that instruction time has been increased to 70 minutes as opposed to 45 minutes last year. This increases instructional time for each student. She also said that teachers will be grading to the standards that come with such a rigorous test such as the EOC’s.

Board member Norris said “I know that testing does not reflect the grading. Kids have A’s on their report cards and then don’t score close to the state average here. The EOC tests need to be reflective of grades.”

“The students are most important to our success and we’re failing them,” said Mr. Norris. He recommended thinking out of the box when it comes to the education of students.

Superintendent Dr. Mike Newton then reminded the board that assessments have changed over the years, especially the last two years. He said that the expectation of the system was to be at or above state standards within the next two years. He said that the bar had been raised across the state and state wide systems are making the same adjustments that “we are here in Jasper County.”

Dr. Shawne Holder, Principal of Washington Park Elementary School (WPES) was the next to present and she stated that WPES scores dropped across the board. She said, “we’ve done a cost analysis as to why this happened. We are lining up grades to coincide with assessments.” As far as changes for the current year, Dr. Holder explained that there is an extra 15 minutes at the end of every day to work on intervention and acceleration for kids.

Dr. Holder explained that targeting children’s weaknesses starts as early as third grade. “We look at score and needs of students,” she said. In third grade, 20 percent of the students made a three or four on the tests She said that ELA for third grade and science in fourth grade both increased their percentages over last year, but still did not meet the standard set last year. She also noted that 17 percent of the fifth grade exam was taken on a computer and that they were going to have to go back and look at technology basics for some of those students to succeed.

Board Chair Dr. Barton asked “Does the test mimic what we are teaching and what kids need to be learning? And as far as what’s on the tests, is it what we need to be teaching?” She was told that the tests were much more rigorous and the overall consensus was that the tests were not reflective of the actual student successes in each school.

There was some discussion as to since 2012, an additional 12.5 percent of kids are now choosing a pathway to learn an actual skill and enter the workforce, over those that choose a college path.

Dr. Newton asked Dr. Kristie Brooks, Director of Student Services, to explain the MAPS testing that the Jasper County Charter System was looking to do. She stated that MAPS is a text that evaluates on a “national norm.” She said that this particular exam compares students’ scores with those in similar systems and with similarly performing students in similar demographic groups. She also stated that this test will speak to teachers as to pinpoint where improvements need to be made and how to change their instruction specific to their students. Dr. Brooks said that this assessment would help students know early on if they are on track or not.

Mr. Norris commented that “Right now we are expecting the next grade to catch kids up. It’s happening every day. We need to build a foundation for kids. To move them on to the next grade when they are ready.”

“We have kids in high school that can’t read. Why are we not preparing them, but sending them on to the next grade?” he asked.

Dr. Barton commented, “Why can’t we test them on stuff that matters? We need to be teaching them what they need to know.”

Dr. Newton then pointed out that as a charter system, “we intend to utilize the flexibility to move and develop assessments. Right now the state mandates that students take these assessments.”

“No matter where kids go, there will be assessments,” he said.

Pam Edge, Principal of JCPS spoke to the board and said that her students do not take the milestones. She said that first and second graders would have to take reading and math assessments next year. She did look at teacher assessments and second grade exceeded all targets. First graders exceeded their target in math, but did not in ELA or STAR (reading) scores.

Kindergartners scored above their target in reading, ELA and math, but showed the most weakness in operations and algebraic thinking.

JCPS students also took a preliminary MAP assessment, scoring well for their first assessment. The students are slated to take a MAP at the beginning of the school year and then another at the end.

Second grade reading percentage had 65 percent in the fiftieth percentile or higher. Their math percentage was 63 percent in the fiftieth percentile or higher. These MAPs were taken to assess where the kids are and are built on common core standards.