Local students record improvements of scores
By Nancy Horst, Special to The Gazette
Friday, September 5, 2008
Emporia students scored well on the state science and social studies assessments given last spring, according to preliminary results received this week.
In science, 85 percent of Emporia students scored at the “meet standards” or above ranges. In social studies, 81 percent met standards or higher.
“Everyone should be commended for the science results,” said George Abel, assistant superintendent for teaching and learning. “The results show that instruction in these two subjects has not suffered with the NCLB (No Child Left Behind) emphasis on reading and math.”
Science assessments are given every year in grades four and seven, and once in high school; social studies assessments are given every two years in grades six and eight, and once in high school. The tests are required by the Kansas Department of Education as part of the state school improvement process. Kansas also requires schools to give a writing assessment every two years in grades five and eight, and once at high school.
Only reading and math are required by the federal NCLB law and are used to determine Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP). Those tests are given every year to all students in grades three through eight, and one grade in high school.
The 2008 reading and math results were announced in July, and district scores in both subjects exceeded the AYP targets. In reading, 80 percent of students scored at “meets standards” or above, and in math 77 percent of students were at “meets standards” or higher. Complete details of the district’s reading and math scores by subgroup can be found at www.usd253.org on the Superintendent’s Message page.
During the 2008-09 school year, Emporia students will take Kansas writing and science assessments in addition to reading and math assessments.
Testing for reading, math and science will begin in February. Writing assessments may be given between October and mid-April.
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