Cynthia J. O’Hora
Academic Standards & Standardized testing 2007 - our students CAN do it.
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.
Commission on College and Career Success Report
MathMovesU Grants and Scholarships Program. This program is intended to encourage participation and enthusiasm in math doing and teaching
Service:
Letters to the Editor:
Other resources:
Education Policy Information Clearinghouse
Contact:
Cynthia J. O'Hora
100 Stetler Ave,
Shamokin Dam, PA 17870
I have not linked this info to avoid spamming.
Selinsgrove Area School District Report Cards:
2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, Special Education Report, 2008, 2009
Pennsylvania State Standards Assessment - PDE reporting site
No Common Denominator: The Preparation of Elementary Teachers in Mathematics
AYP - Adequate Yearly Progress. This is the benchmark set by the Federal government's No Child Left Behind Act and the Pennsylvania Department of Education.
SASD Math PSSA scores 2001-2007 | Reading Test Scores 2007
AYP benchmark for Math 2001-2004 (AYP was 35%) in 2005 - 2007 AYP is 45%
In 2008 - 2010 AYP for Math is 56% of students successful in Math. In 2011 - 67% is the AYP. In 2012 - 78%
Students in SASD made great strides in 2007. They are to be commended for their efforts.
SASD 3rd grade PSSA Math scores percentage of students scoring proficient or better
* 2007 - SAIS 90.8% on grade level, State 78.5% (AYP - 45%)
53.4% of SAIS 3rd graders scored Advanced!
SAIS 3rd grade's results are in the top 30% of the 38 third grade schools in IU16. This is a great improvement over 2005 & 2006. Three IU16 3rd grades achieved 100%!
In 2006 - SAIS 80% - State - 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%
In 2005 SAIS 3rd grade - 79% - State 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.
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SASD 4th grade PSSA Math scores percentage of students scoring proficient or better
* 2007 - SAIS 88.3% on grade level, State - 78% (AYP- 45%)
58.9% of SAIS 4th graders scored Advanced! Outstanding!
SAIS 4th grade's results are in the top 30% of the 35 fourth grade schools in IU16
In 2006 - SAIS 78.4% on grade level, State - 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%
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SASD 5th grade PSSA Math scores percentage of students scoring proficient or better
* 2007 - SAIS 82.3% on grade level and 54.2% scored Advanced!, State - 71% (AYP - 45%)
SAIS 5th grade's results are in the top 30% in the IU16. Two area 5th grades scored 100%
*2006 - SAIS 53.8%, State - 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.
| 2001 - 50.2% | 2004 - 64.1%, State - 61.8% | 2007 - 82.3%, State - 71% |
| 2002 - 52.3% | 2005 - 56%, State - 69% | |
| 2003 - 54%, State - 56.3% | 2006 - 53.8%, State - 66.9% |
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.
2007 - SAMS 78.5% and 48.2% scored Advanced! | State - 69.6% (AYP - 45%)
SAMS 6th grade's results are in the top half of IU16 6th grades. IU16 AVG. 75.36%
2006 - SAMS - 73.3% - State - 68% IU Avg - 76.6%
First year 6th is tested. SAMS is ranked 12th in 19 IU 16 schools
Top local scorer in IU 16 is MiddWest - West Snyder 88.5%
39% of SAMS 6th graders scored Advanced. 38% of 6th graders in PA scored Advanced.
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2007 - SAMS 78% and 42.7% of 7th graders scored Advanced! | State - 67.2% (AYP - 45%)
SAMS 7th grade's results are in the top 25% of 7th grades in the IU16 school districts
2006 - SAMS - 76.2% - State - 66.5% IU Avg - 69%
First year 7th is tested. SAMS is ranked 6th in 19 IU 16 schools
Top local scorer in IU 16 is Lewisburg 91.9%
38% of SAMS 7th graders scored Advanced. 37% of 7th graders in PA scored Advanced.
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In 2008 - 2010 AYP for Math is 56% of students successful in Math. In 2011 - 67% is the AYP. In 2012 - 78%
SASD 8th grade PSSA Math scores percentage of students scoring proficient or better
* 2007 - SAMS 82.8% 59.9% scored Advanced!, State - 67.9% (AYP - 45%)
SAMS 8th grade's results are in the top 3rd of IU16 school districts
* 2006 - 70.1% PA - 62.2%, IU AVG 62.79%
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.
| 2001 - 46.5% (AYP - 35%) | 2004 - 53.8% State - 58% | 2007 - 82.8%, State - 67.9% |
| 2002 - 51.6% (AYP - 35%) | 2005 - 68% State - 63% | |
| 2003 - 48.4% State - 51.3% | 2006 - 70.1% State - 62.2% |
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.
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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 is 56%
2007 - SAHS 52.7% 25.7% of SAHS 11th graders scored Advanced., State - 53.7% (AYP - 45%)
SAHS 11th grade's results are mid range in the 17 IU16 school districts
2006 - 48.3% State - 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.
| 2001 - 48.8% | 2004 - 47.1%, State - 49.1% | 2007 - 52.7% State - 53.7% |
| 2002 - 49.4% | 2005 - 48.9%, State - 51% | |
| 2003 - 41.4%, State - 49.1% | 2006 - 48.3%, State - 52% |
2005 - 48.9% on grade level, State - 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.
In 1999, Pennsylvania adopted Academic Standards for Reading, Writing, Speaking and Listening and Mathematics. Science standards were approved on January 5, 2002. The curriculum must be aligned to the Pennsylvania Academic Standards. This allows SASD students to have the best opportunity to succeed on the PSSAs.
I have supported purchasing new math textbooks for the high school and a math supplimentary online math practice program. Intermediate School and Middle School students can use this program in school or at home to practice their math skills. I am pleased to report that many students like the software and even choose to work ahead in math!
I have advocated for greater rigor and additional instruction in core curriculum subjects including mathematics. Effective with the Class of 2011 - four years of math are required for graduation with an exception for students who score proficient or better on the PSSAs their 11th grade year. Students will be expected to take algebra 1 and geometry. In order to support students retaining mathematics skills they will take at least one math class per year. A math coach is in place in the high school.
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 12/6/07