Oklahoma's Public Education:
The Foundation of the State's Future
News
- Are state tests failing Oklahoma's kids?
- 01-17-2010
- MEGAN ROLLAND
Higher standards have resulted in lower scores in math, reading
Teachers are saying it is a "double whammy" this year to have toughened standards for Oklahoma students on the state tests when additional resources for education are not available."We certainly feel pressured for our students to do well on the test because one, it reflects on our schools, and teachers just want their students to succeed," said Sabra Tucker, an instructional facilitator for Shawnee Public Schools.
Last July, the state Board of Education voted to make it harder for students to achieve "proficiency" on the math and reading tests taken by all third- through eighth-graders.
On average, roughly 20 percent fewer students received proficient scores on the Oklahoma Core Curriculum Test because of the changes.
"We've noted that those increases in the cut scores will have an impact on our (number of) students that pass," Oklahoma City Public Schools Superintendent Karl Springer said.
However, he noted that while fewer students obtained the proficient mark, students still were making progress.
"When we looked at the results of last year ... we saw a significantly big number got more questions right," Springer said. "It's a good sign for Oklahoma that we're trying to raise the bar for student achievement."
The tests are given in April, and the results are used as one factor in whether a school attains "Annual Yearly Progress," a federal benchmark that if not attained for several years in a row has serious implications on the funding and structure of a school.
Last year, schools were held harmless for the test scores.
But this year, the test scores could have an impact whether a school makes the required progress.
State Sen. Clark Jolley, R-Edmond, said the change in standards for the tests was important because it brought Oklahoma more in line with how students were performing on the National Assessment of Educational Progress.
For example, the state Education Department noted that while in eighth grade, 82 percent of students scored proficient on state tests. Only 26 percent scored proficient on the national test.
"We're seeing a lot of states that are being suspected of having easier tests than what the standard is so the appearance is that they are making the grade," said Jolley, who helped author an education bill last year that called for the state to take a look at all standardized tests.
"It calls for us to do an audit of our testing system to make sure that we are meeting appropriate grade level and that we are not dumbing down tests like so many states are doing," Jolley said.
Tucker said teachers in Shawnee schools are working hard this year to help ensure that students will be able to answer some of the harder questions on the test.
Math
Comparing 2009 vs. 2008 Oklahoma Core
Curriculum Test Math Proficiency Results
Third grade: 66 percent; 87 percent
Fourth grade: 67 percent; 92 percent
Fifth grade: 65 percent; 84 percent
Sixth grade: 64 percent; 81 percent
Seventh grade: 63 percent; 77 percent
Eighth grade: 61 percent; 82 percent
Reading
Comparing 2009 vs. 2008 Oklahoma Core
Curriculum Test Reading Proficiency Results
Third grade: 67 percent; 78 percent
Fourth grade: 63 percent; 83 percent
Fifth grade: 65 percent; 87 percent
Sixth grade: 65 percent; 80 percent
Seventh grade: 70 percent; 77 percent
Eighth grade: 67 percent; 82 percent
Source: State Department of Education
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