Math Still a Problem, Test Shows
By Stacey Palevsky, Tri-City Herald, Kennewick, Wash.
Jun. 9–Washington’s 10th-grade students know how to read and write, according to early test results released Thursday that showed thousands more students than last year passed the reading and writing sections of the Washington Assessment of Student Learning, or WASL.
But they still don’t know their math.
Whereas 86 percent of students passed the reading test and 84 percent passed writing, only 54 percent of 10th-graders passed the mathematics portion. Slightly more than 70,000 sophomores took the exams in March and April.
Educators expected scores to increase in all areas because the test became a graduation requirement this year.
As many as 10,000 more students passed the writing exam and 7,000 more passed the reading, said Terry Bergeson, state superintendent of public instruction. Many more students moved from just meeting standards to exceeding standards, she added, with about 44,000, or 62 percent, scoring at the highest level on the reading test.
“I hoped math would reflect the same kind of jump,” Bergeson said. “But the motivation didn’t work so that means many kids are struggling with mathematics itself.”
Bergeson said there still is great debate about how best to teach math and how kids learn mathematical concepts. She also said people have a bad attitude about math, unlike literacy.
“We’ve got to get over thinking that only some people can do it because it’s not true,” Bergeson said. “The facts are, math is for everyone.”
The results are preliminary, she cautioned, and more comprehensive and accurate data will be released in August. However, she wanted to give parents and students a basic idea of statewide performance because students will receive their individual scores this week and next.
The early results will allow those who failed the test to sign up for free summer classes before retaking the exam in August. The Legislature designated $28.5 million for remedial classes and an additional $8 million to improve math and science education.
That translates to $120 per student per subject for those students who were close to meeting the test standards. For students who scored far below standard, the state has designated $330 per student per subject.
The Pasco School District will mail students their scores today. Dennis Maguire, assistant superintendent, said about 180 of the district’s 10th-graders scored just slightly below standard and will be automatically enrolled in a five-week summer course.
Educational Service District 123 is leading the summer course. Pasco is one of five sites that will provide remedial classes using curriculum provided by the state.
ESD 123 has hired 28 teachers, 11 of whom will teach math. Classes will be capped at about 15 students each.
Teachers will attend a training session next week. An additional 60 teachers signed up for the training as a good professional development opportunity, said Mark Muxen, director of instructional support for ESD 123.
“Hopefully this will give kids the boost they need to be successful in August,” Muxen said.
Educators expected scores to increase in all areas because the test “counted” this year. Previous years’ tests did not count toward graduation.
Other factors also likely contributed to the rise in test scores, Bergeson said, such as teachers being more skillful and students being better prepared.
Nearly all states that have required a test for graduation saw big gains the first year of the requirement. In Texas, the statewide passing rate on the 11th-grade Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test was 50 percent in 2003. In 2004, passing the test became required for kids to graduate and the passing rate shot up to 73 percent.
Half of all states now use or plan to soon implement exit exams — tests that students must pass to graduate, according to the Center for Education Policy, a nonpartisan think tank in Washington, D.C.
Last year, 42 percent of sophomores passed all three WASL tests. Initial results showed that 77 percent of 10th-graders passed reading; 71 percent passed writing and 51 percent passed math. Final 2005 results, however, showed 73 percent passed reading, 65 percent passed writing and 48 percent passed math.
Students can retake the exam four times, or prove competency in a subject by getting good grades, scoring at a certain level on other standardized tests or submitting a portfolio of school work.
Data for how a specific district or school scored will be available in August.
“To those students who struggled with one, two or three subjects — I want to offer a message of hope and encouragement,” Bergeson said. “Don’t give up and don’t walk away discouraged. … There is support for you.”
For more information about summer classes, contact your local school district.
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Copyright (c) 2006, Tri-City Herald, Kennewick, Wash.
Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News.
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