HomeMy WebLinkAbout1976 09-15 Reading results disappoint board THE REVIEW 1 Page 10 Wed.,Sept. 15, 1976 THE REVIEW
11 th graders below state level
idisappointRedn resuIts board
by Scott Carlson sample of 144 11th graders last spring, Hansen seemed to agree."This is the the test results is to identify which of the —That in comprehension of longer which sets the approximate standard of
reveal that: average of the whole class," he said. students lack necessary reading skills. discourse District 622 students scored 67 reading students need to achieve to do B
Results of a recent random sample test —District 622 11th graders scored below "This is not just the kids on the bottom." "The piggyback assessment didn't percent correct while the state average or C work in high school,50 percent of the
on the reading abilities of 11th grade their statewide peers on each of four Board member B.J. Haak said the identify who those young men and women was 72 percent. And in reading study District 622 measured up to the standard
students in the North St.Paul-Maplewood domains on the test.Those include word results should prompt the district to are,"he said. skills District 622 students scored 72 while 62 percent measure up on the state
school district reveal that they are below identification and recognition skills;word initiate a massive testing program on What is needed is an assessment at the percent correct while the state average wide average.
the state-wide average. and sentence comprehension; com- every grade level even though that might "beginning of this year so we know the was 75 percent. —That in critical evaluation,which is
In four areas of the state-wide prehension of longer discourse and cost a lot of money. needs and can reallocate our resources," The composite average for the 144 11th necessary to participate in the political
"piggyback"test,as well as four literary reading study skills. Board member Jerry Bell,who called St.Germain said. graders in North St.Paul-Maplewood was process at a critical and discerning level,
indexes,North St.Paul-Maplewood 11th —Seventeen percent of the 11th the test results"clearly unacceptable", He warned the board that the random 66 percent compared with the state wide 58 percent of the District 622 students
graders scored below the state wide graders,now seniors,lack basic literary said the board should look forward to staff sample results of the 11th grade class average of 72 percent. meet the standard compared to the state
average, Karen Johnson, director of or"survival skills"in reading, recommendations on how the board might need not be taken as"a grand indictment In the literary indexes the results average of 65 percent.
curriculum and evaluation, reported to —The students scored lower than their deal with the reading program. of the whole system." reveal: —Based on criteria necessary in order
the school board at its Aug.26 meeting. statewide peers in indexes measuring Woodworth agreed that there is much Later on in the meeting, Board —That 17 percent of the District 622 to do approximately B or C work as a
School board members called the results reading success in school, reading for work to be done.But he also pointed out, Chairman Art Meyer seemed to agree."I students lack basic survival skills in college freshman only 35 percent of the
"disappointing." critical evaluation and citizenship and "The focus up to now has been on the think the report will be a catalyst to say reading. That compares to the state District 622 seniors would meet the
Although Supt. William Woodworth reading for success in college. developing of the reading curriculum. let's get going,"he said. average of 12 percent. standard compared to the state average
indicated that the results were expected Board member Donald Robertson said, You have to bear in mind that only A specific breakdown on the test results —That in the success for school index, of 54 percent.
because early tests revealed that District "The test results speak eloquently for developmental and remedial reading show:
622 students read at about the national themselves." He suggested that the have been offered in the secondary level. —That in word identification and
norm,Board member Robert Hansen said school district will have to make a con- Only people who ask for it are given it." recognition skills District 622 students
the results were inappropriate for the certed effort to "put our eggs in the He also pointed out that the district's scored 62 percent right while the
district. "A suburban district like this elementary basket." assessment efforts in areas like reading statewide average was 66 percent.
should be much higher than most Robertson noted that he found the test were cut back three years ago by —That in word and sentence corn-
districts,"he said. results "very significant" and said the budgetary problems. prehension District 622 students scored 72
"These results are terrible,"he added. matter must be addressed before it Dick St.Germain,director of secondary percent while the state average was 76
The results, gathered in a random becomes a further problem. education,said the real challenge behind percent.