Aggravating Data
People can be famously skeptical about numbers and statistics; when it comes to St. Louis school's Missouri Assessment Program score test results, their skepticism might only be bolstered.
Missouri Education Commissioner Kent D. King's said Thursday that the state may revoke the district's accreditation will likely rock the district. Voters and parents looking for more information in the data released today may only find confusion.
Accompanying the release of the test figures, was a statement from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education that due to a number of changes, this year's results can not be accurately compared with previous MAP scores. State law mandated the changes.
"We are trying to discourage comparisons," said Jim Morris, director of public information for DESE.
Morris said that not only have scores been redistributed due to the shift from five to four categories (below basic, basic, proficient and advanced), but even the categories don't match up.
"The top two categories, proficient and advanced, still have the same names, but the definitions have been changed," said Morris. "Those categories have been made broader."
"We're really looking at this year as a new baseline," said Morris.
In addition to changes in how scores are reported, testing changes will also affect results. Instead of the grade-span method where several grades will be chosen, the states now tests grades 3-8 and one grade in high school.
Morris said DESE recognizes that parents and citizens are trying to put the scores into some form of context. Given the changes, the best method would be to compare St. Louis' figures to the state averages. (Antonio French has a great graph of the comparison at St. Louis Schools Watch).
Matching up to state data won't provide particular performance data, nor is it likely to ease concerns. St. Louis city measures far below the state average.
The data will also affect the "adequate yearly performance" (AYP) results, which test how districts match up against standards mandated by the No Child Left Behind legislation. This year, the district has missed the targets in math and communication arts.
Despite what anyone might wish or think, it is obvious that the achievements of the city school district have greatly fallen under the dominance of the mayor's slate. More accreditation points were lost than under any board.
The mayor in this instance didn't do right by the children of St. Louis. He allowed for the frittering away of millions of dollars through a turnaround firm that only turned downward the scholastic achievements of the district. Then he supported an overly paid superintendent who brought family and cronies in who only damaged the district further.
Now he wants the State to take over. There are at least four board members who care about the children, the staff, and the wellbeing of the district. Let's hope they are allowed an opportunity to really turn around the district toward improvement and achievement.
Posted by Helen Louise on Fri., Sep 1, 2006 at 12:30 PMDoes "new baseline" mean that we are trending down expectations of our children and education system, just at a time when we should be placing more expectations on the system, the children, and the parents?
Posted by travis reems on Fri., Sep 1, 2006 at 12:32 PM===Despite what anyone might wish or think, it is obvious that the achievements of the city school district have greatly fallen under the dominance of the mayor's slate. More accreditation points were lost than under any board.
While this year is hard to compare, this is simply untrue at the elementary school level. Dave and I have both written about this several times. Improvements in achievement data do not necessarily equate directly to accreditation points.
Posted by ArchPundit on Fri., Sep 1, 2006 at 1:08 PMBut accreditation points will determine if the State takes over. "Achievements" is a generic term and represents varied areas and, therefore, will be seen from different perspectives by different individuals.
Teachers and principals reported how chaotic, ill planned summer school was this year. That is just one area where district-wide achievement didn't meet normal expectations, criteria, or goals.
Posted by Helen Louise on Sat., Sep 2, 2006 at 11:39 AM
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