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NYS Assessments Presented of Putnam Valley Students
Disappointing scores in Social Studies and Chemistry prompt Board to request review
by Margaret Sternberg
Although many of the NYS Assessment scores presented during the October 4, 2007 meeting of the Putnam Valley Board of Education showed that students had made anywhere from incremental to significant academic improvement, scores in both Chemistry and Social Studies warranted the Board and Superintendent Dr. Marc Space to undertake a review of those areas.
Student scores showing ELA "mastery" (attaining Level 3 or 4 of four levels) remained flat at approximately 76 and 82 percent respectively of those moving from Grade 3 to Grade 4 this year and those moving from Grade 5 to Grade 6 this year.
For those in Grades 4, 6 and 7 last year, who moved to the next grade this year, there was noticeable improvement. Respectively per grade, scores showing mastery went from 70 to 80 percent; 61 to 70 percent, and 60 to 66 percent.
Year over year results in Mathematics showed incremental gains anywhere from 3 to 12 percent, with the one exception being last year's 7th graders' scores flat as this year's 8th graders.
Grade 4 Science results were 92 percent, down from 95 percent; however, Science results for 8th graders were 100 percent of students at the mastery level, up from 91 percent.
Fifth grade Social Studies results declined from 2006 when 99 percent of the students scored at the mastery level to 86 percent scoring at the mastery level in 2007. Eighth grade Social Studies results were equally disappointing, with 74 percent showing mastery in 2006 and only 61 percent showing mastery in 2007.
Board President Tina Mackay said that she was surprised at the decline in Social Studies scores given the grade-to-grade continuity of the Social Studies curriculum. She said the Board had discussed the issue with the Superintendent who planned on reviewing the Social Studies curriculum and instructional practices for possible changes.
The Board was equally concerned with results for the Chemistry Regents. Approximately 80 percent of the students taking the Chemistry Regents passed at the mastery level in 2007; however, in 2006 approximately 90 percent attained the mastery level. Mackay said that the Chemistry curriculum and instructional practices would also be reviewed for possible changes.
Regents scores, overall, showed improvement. Most students scored at the mastery level in Regents results for ELA and Mathematics A, and a far greater percentage of students scored at the mastery level in Mathematics B in 2007 than in 2006. The Global History and U.S. History as well as Living Environment and Earth Science Regents' scores showed improvement over last year, but both years showed most students scoring at the mastery level.
The Physics, French and Spanish Regents' scores showed most students at the mastery level and percentages were flat from 2006.
President Mackay expressed pride in the district's students, noting that many high school students appeared to be challenging themselves, opting to take more than the minimum number of required Regents tests and striving for "Regents with Advanced Designation," which require additional Regents tests in Math, Science and/or Foreign Language. She suggested that students who do so are interested in learning for the sake of learning.
In other business, the district has decided to follow the district's 2007 graduates as they pursue post-secondary education and other endeavors. The school intends to compile baseline data on the high school graduates, who will complete an exit survey before leaving the school. Another survey will be sent to them 18-months after that.
The surveys will be used to help develop a strategy for accomplishing programs, the development of timelines and to help develop a more effective means to monitor programs. This pilot program is expected to cost $1,700 - $1,900, and no decisions have been made about the program continuing beyond the current year. Those decisions are expected to be made on a year-to-year basis.
The next meeting of the Putnam Valley Board of Education will be Thursday, October 18, at 7pm.
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