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February 4, 2008

Students show improvement in statewide testing

PROVIDENCE -- Rhode Island elementary and middle school students once again improved on statewide tests, a clear sign of sustained progress, state officials announced this morning, with 65 percent of students scoring proficient in English in 2007 -- 3 percent higher than in 2006 -- and 54 scoring proficient in math, up 1 point from the previous year.

Most school districts showed gains, most notably in four urban areas: Central Falls, Pawtucket, Providence and Woonsocket, and five of the state’s charter schools. In addition, different groups of students -- white, Hispanic, Black, Asian, Native American, low-income, special education and English language learners -- have shown steady improvement on the standardized tests which are administered in October.

Governor Carcieri and Education Commissioner Peter McWalters said the results establish a clear picture of progress over the three years the tests have been taken by about 72,000 students each year in grades three through eight.

“We’ve really been pushing hard on the new standards and the new assessments and we are beginning to see the results of that,” Carcieri said at a State House news conference. “There is much more work to be done, but we are moving in the right direction, with significant improvement in all grade levels and among all student groups.”

Fifth and eighth graders also took a writing test, but those scores were flat, with 48 percent of students scoring proficient, compared to 47 percent in 2006 and 51 percent in 2005, the first year the test was administered.

-- Journal staff writer Jennifer D. Jordan

Rhode Island developed the tests, called the New England Common Assessment Program, or NECAP, with Vermont and New Hampshire three years ago.

“By joining with two other states that do not have high urban populations and that score among the highest on national tests, it was a policy decision to tie ourselves to high performing states,” McWalters said.

Not surprisingly, those states scored higher, with 70 percent of Vermont students and 73 percent of New Hampshire students scoring proficient in reading and 63 percent of Vermont students and 67 percent of New Hampshire students scoring proficient in math. Writing scores were about the same as Rhode Island’s: 48 percent in Vermont and 49 percent in New Hampshire.

Eleventh graders took the NECAP for the first time last October. High school results will be released Feb. 25, said state education officials.

Posted by Mike McKinney at 12:42 PM | Permalink

February 4, 2008

Students show improvement in statewide testing

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