Academic Standards & Standardized testing - our students CAN do it.

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Contact:

Cynthia J. O'Hora
100 Stetler Ave,
Shamokin Dam, PA 17870

I have not linked this info to avoid spamming.

I believe in standardized testing as one effective measure of the quality of the education being provided in the district. Our district should work to be in the top third of schools in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Ideally, our goal should be to achieve Blue Ribbon Schools status.

In 1999, Pennsylvania adopted Academic Standards for Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening and Mathematics. Science standards were approved on January 5, 2002. The curriculum should be aligned to the Pennsylvania Academic Standards in a more timely fashion. This allows SASD students to have the best opportunity to succeed on the PSSAs.

Selinsgrove Area School District Report Cards:

2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, Special Education Report, 2008, 2009

Pennsylvania State Standards Assessment - PDE reporting site

AYP - Adequate Yearly Progress. This is the benchmark set by the Federal government's No Child Left Behind Act

SASD Math PSSA scores 2001-2006 | Reading Test Scores 2006 | Update 2007 | Update 2008

AYP benchmark for Math 2001-2004 (AYP was 35%) in 2005 AYP increased to 45%

In 2008 - 2010 AYP for Math will be 56%

SASD 3rd grade PSSA Math scores percentage of students scoring proficient or better

* 2006 - SAIS 80% - State Avg is 82.7%, IU16 Avg. 86.28% (AYP - 45%)

37% of SAIS 3rd graders scored Advanced. 55% of 3rd graders in PA scored Advanced.

SAIS is ranked 28th in the 38 ele schools IU 16 in 3rd grade math scores. Five ele. schools achieved 100%

In Pennsylvania 773 3rd grades across 501 school districts scored 90% or greater.

101 3rd grades in PA achieved 100%

2005 - 79% - State avg is 80% (AYP - 45%) this is the first year 3rd graders were tested.

SASD is ranked 10th in the 12 school IU 16 in 3rd grade math scores. Top is Lewisburg with 94%

28% (140 of the 501 school districts) of the 3rd grades in PA achieved 90% or better of their students scoring proficient and advanced. In the Upper St. Clair School District, 98% of 3rd graders scored proficient or advanced.

SASD 4th grade PSSA Math scores percentage of students scoring proficient or better

* 2006 - SAIS 78.4% - State Avg is 77.2% (AYP - 45%) IU16 average 83.44%

24% of SAIS 4th graders scored Advanced. 43.5% of 4th graders in PA scored Advanced.

SAIS is ranked 29th in the 38 IU 16 ele schools in 4th grade math scores. Two ele. schools achieved 100%

First year 4th grade is tested. Top scores in IU 16 Line Mt. Leck and Mifflinburg Buffalo Crossroads

In Pennsylvania - 434 4th grades (across 501 school districts) scored 90% or greater.

31 - 4th grades in PA achieved 100%

 

SASD 5th grade PSSA Math scores percentage of students scoring proficient or better

*2006 - SAIS 53.8%, State Avg 66.9%, IU 16 Avg 68.8 Top Score is Milton Montandon

SAIS is ranked 30th in 35 schools in the IU16 in 5th grade math.

In Pennsylvania - 137 fifth grades across 501 school districts scored 90% or greater.

10 - 5th grades in PA achieved 100%

24% of SAIS 5th graders scored Advanced. 39% of 5th graders in PA scored Advanced.

2005 - SAIS is ranked 12th in the 12 school IU 16 in 5th grade math. Top is Mifflinburg with 85.5%

29% (146 of the 501 school districts) of the 5th grades in PA achieved 80% or better of their students scoring proficient and advanced.

In South Fayette School District, 97% of 5th graders scored proficient or advanced.

2006 - 70.1% PA Avg 62.2%, IU AVG 62.79%

SASD is ranked 6th in the 19 schools IU 16

Top local scorer in IU 16 is Lewisburg 81.1%

36% of SAMS 8th graders scored Advanced. 36% of 8th graders in PA scored Advanced.

2005 - SASD is ranked 4th in the 12 school IU 16 in 8th grade math. WELL DONE 8th grade!

Top local scorer in IU 16 is Lewisburg 79.8%

In the Upper St. Clair School District, 92.% of 8th graders scored proficient or advanced.

SASD 11th grade PSSA Math scores percentage of students scoring proficient or better
2001-2004 (AYP - 35%) in 2005 (AYP - 45%) in 2008 - 2010 AYP will be 56%

2006 - 48.3% State Avg 52%, IU16 Avg 52.43

SAHS is ranked 13th in the 17 school IU 16

Lewisburg's 67.8% is top in IU16. In PA - GAR Memorial High School is top score 90.4%

25% of SAHS 11th graders scored Advanced. 28% of 11th graders in PA scored Advanced.

2005 - 48.9% State Avg 51%

SASD is ranked 6th in the 12 school IU 16 in 11th grade math. Lewisburg is top with 67.1%

Tredyffrin-Easton was the state's top scorer with 88.8 % of their 11th graders scoring proficient or better.

I have talked with the administration at length expressing my concern about the poor math scores of our graduates.
One explanation offered to me was a lack of motivation on the students' part. Initially, I supported a positive approach that rewarded those who passed the PSSAs. Seniors who have been successful on both exams in 11th grade are permitted to leave during club and remediation time held at the end of the day.

I still support rewarding success, but I also believe we must focus students on their success in core academics.

A priority should be given to supplying intensive supports for students struggling in the core academics. The district has begun to do this.

• A math coach has been hired to assist struggling high school students. (Funding - Accountability Block Grant)
• HS students who are not proficient are required to take a math remediation course.
• The English and math curriculums at the HS are being revised.
• Remediation classes are now provided at the MS.
• The K-5 math curriculum has been aligned to the standards as of the 2005-2006 academic year.
• A new, standards based, K-5 reading program was implemented in August 2005. The cost of this program $138,887 has been paid for out of the 2004-2005 Budget surplus of $550,000.

Passing to Participate - I believe students should be accountable for their studies and their behavior. A score of proficient or advanced on the PSSAs should be expected in reading, math, writing and science. Those students with IEPs (individual education plans) will have expectations adjusted to their abilities.

SASD's current policies regarding participation in extracurricular and athletics permits students who are failing 2 core academic classes to continue to participate. This must be changed.

"The significant problems we face cannot be solved at the same level of thinking
we were at when we created them." Albert Einstein

updated 10/30/06