Students’ test scores up for third year
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L CENTRO — For the third consecutive year, Imperial County students’ proficiency levels in English-language arts (ELA) and mathematics have risen in statewide assessments tests administered by the state Department of Education (DOE).
The California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CASPP) test results, released Wednesday, also reveal that local students’ year-to-year progress exceeded that reported by the state and comparable counties, the Imperial County Office of Education reported.
“When we look at the percentage of growth these past few years, we are encouraged,” said ICOE Superintendent Todd Finnell, in a written statement. “But we still have work ahead as we prepare students for college and career.”
Nearly 20,000 local students grades third through eighth, as well as 11th graders, took part in the CASPP testing in the spring of the 2016-2017 school year.
The number of local students who met or exceeded ELA standards this year stood at 40.8 percent, while the number who met or exceeded standards in math stood at 28.8 percent, CASPP data stated.
Those figures on are par with the test results of counties with comparable populations of English-language learners and socio-economic disadvantaged students.
Local test results for the 2016-1017 school year also fell short of statewide proficiency levels in ELA and math, which stood at 48.5 percent and 37.5 percent, respectively.
Yet, countywide test results have seen greater three-year increases in proficiency levels in comparison to other comparable counties and the state.
Local students realized an 8.8 percent increase in ELA proficiency levels between the 2014-1015 and the previous school year. For comparable counties and the state, increases of 5.9 percent and 4.5 percent were realized, respectively, the CASPP data stated.
Similarly, local students realized a 6.8 percent increase in math proficiency levels between the same timeframe, while comparable counties and the state saw increases of 5.4 percent and 4.5 percent, respectively.
The state Department of Education’s computer-based testing is now in its third year, and compiles data at the state, county, school district and individual campus level.
Statewide, about 3.2 million total students took the assessment tests the previous school year. For the third consecutive year, less than 1 percent of students did not take part in the assessments due to a parental exemption, the state DOE reported.
“The high rates of participation showcase the California Way, which involves working together for positive change in education,” said state Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson in a written statement. “They also show strong support for using one common yardstick to measure the skills of all students.”
Parents will also be provided with customized two-page Student Score Reports (SSR) that detail their child’s most recent and previous years’ test results.
A graph on the SSR’s first page tells parents whether their child exceeded the standards for their grade level, met the standards, nearly met them or didn’t meet them. The second page consists of a more detailed view of what the scoring ranges are and provide additional information that should allow parents to identify their child’s academic strengths and weaknesses. Parents are also encouraged to contact teachers and school administrators for any question or concerns they may have.
On Wednesday, the test scores for individual school districts and campuses were also released by the state DOE and can be accessed online at http://caaspp.cde.ca.gov
Wednesday’s CASPP data was originally scheduled to be released in late August, but was postponed as a result of a data issue.
The Imperial Valley Press will look to report on individual school and district reports in the comings days.