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Claremont, N.H., School Board Members Seek Reasons for Poor Test Results

Posted on: Monday, 10 April 2006, 21:00 CDT

By Josh Adams, Eagle Times, Claremont, N.H.

Apr. 5--CLAREMONT -- School board members agreed with district administrators Wednesday that Claremont students did poorly on a new standardized test, and are asking teachers to help determine what can be done about it.

Board member Colby Casey suggested every educator in the district respond anonymously to a short survey so that policymakers can gain a better understanding of what went wrong on the New England Common Assessment Program tests. The recommendation was unanimously supported by the school board, and the responses will be incorporated into Superintendent Jacqueline Guillette's recommendations for improving student performance.

"I'd like to be able to read what the front-line people think the answer is," Casey said.

The two questions will be presented on the district's Web site and teachers will be given until April 14 to respond.

Vice Chairman John Napsey said he expects the faculty will give serious consideration to the board's request, given that it's unusual for the board to seek direct input. Newly elected board member Mary Dakin is a former teacher in Claremont, and was the first to voice her support for the survey.

"I think it's a great idea," Dakin said.

For more than 90 minutes Wednesday, the Claremont School Board heard from Guillette and Curriculum Director Wendy Siebrands on the NECAP results.

Siebrands explained how the test differs from previous standardized tests, how recent curriculum changes may have influenced the scores and that the district's high percentage of transient students may also play a role.

Thirty-eight percent of sixth-grade students have been in the district for fewer than three years, Guillette said. In the elementary grades this year, more than 50 kids were enrolled in at least one other school during the first marking period, Guillette said.

In neighboring Cornish, only 5 percent of the student population changes during a given school year, Guillette said.

"Some of the principals have asked me, Œwhy are you putting so much emphasis on this one test,' " Guillette said. "The fact is, the state is putting so much emphasis on this one test. Adequate Yearly Progress (under No Child Left Behind) will be based on this." According to Siebrands, the state will announce which schools are in need of improvement under the federal No Child Left Behind education act in mid-May.

Guillette said a "betting person" would expect the Claremont Middle School to be cited as being in need of improvement for the second consecutive year.

"Are these test scores what anybody wanted?" Guillette said. "Absolutely not. But that does not mean we stop the work we're doing." Of 302 students tested on their ability to write at grade level, only 37 percent are meeting expectations, according to the NECAP tests. In math, 846 students were tested and 45 percent demonstrated an understanding of grade level concepts.

Fifty-three percent of the 849 students tested in reading met state expectations, according to the results.

The NECAP tests were taken in October of 2005 in grades three through eight.

Students in New Hampshire, Vermont and Rhode Island took the tests and results were released in New Hampshire and Vermont in March.

"Quite frankly, if this was my report card -- which in a way it is -- I would not want to bring it home to my mother," Casey said.

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Copyright (c) 2006, Eagle Times, Claremont, N.H.

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Source: Eagle Times, Claremont, New Hampshire

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