Monday, Aug. 23, 2010

Test gains are small, but in right direction

County schools chief pleased with results in English, math

Although small, Merced County made gains in the number of students scoring at proficient or advanced levels on state standardized tests in 2009-2010, according to data released Monday from the California Department of Education.

In English-language arts, the number of students at those levels increased to 44 percent from 42. In math, the number of second- through seventh-grade students reaching proficient or advanced jumped five points, to 41 percent from 36 percent.

Lee Andersen, county superintendent of schools, said he was happy to see scores rise.

"Scores reflect a long-term trend of improvement in the county," he explained.

More than 42,000 students were tested in 2009-2010.

The tests are given annually to second- through 11th-grade students in the subjects of math, English-language arts, science and history.

High school students take one of eight separate California standards tests. Which test the students take, such as general mathematics, algebra 1, geometry, algebra 2 or summative high school mathematics, depends on which class they are enrolled in.

Scores are placed in five categories: advanced, proficient, basic, below basic and far below basic.

The 2001 No Child Left Behind Act federal legislation requires students to reach the academic level of "proficient" by 2014. Proficient means a mastery of a subject.

The Merced Union School District with more than 10,000 students notched a 5-percent gain in the English-language arts score to 45 percent from 40.

George Sziraki, assistant superintendent of educational services, said a 3-percent increase or higher is significant.

In algebra, ninth-graders reaching advanced and proficient levels increased to 30 percent from 23 percent, but in the higher grades those numbers were mostly unchanged.

Results from the tests will be used to calculate a school's adequate yearly progress and academic performance index, numbers that reveal a school's progress toward proficiency.

Those numbers will be released at the end of the month.

Statewide, California students recorded overall gains.

In the eight years since all California Standards Tests were completely aligned to state standards, the percentage of students scoring at the proficient or advanced level increased by 17 percentage points in English-language arts, to 52 percent from 35 percent, and 13 percentage points in mathematics, to 48 percent from 35 percent, according to a news release from the California Department of Education.

"I am pleased that more than half of our students are proficient or advanced in English-language arts, and nearly half are proficient or advanced in mathematics," said State Schools Chief Jack O'Connell.

Reporter Jamie Oppenheim can be reached at (209) 385-2407 or joppenheim@mercedsunstar.com.