The Indiana Department of Education today announced that the statewide scores for language arts improved by about 3% while the scores for math improved by about 4%. That means the real improvement for FWCS is about 2% in each category, rather than the much celebrated 5/6% we heard in the district's premature announcement. The statewide improvement may be the result of moving the test to spring or that the test got easier but either way the FWCS results are far from impressive. At least they're up but the increase is about as much as we could expect, considering the difficult task facing the district.
All the hype we heard from the district and the JG a few weeks ago was just that, hype and BS. Lets see the reruns on WANE-TV of Wendy and her buffoons patting themselves on the back. Better yet lets have another press conference or JG editorial apologizing for misleading the public about their results. Maybe John Peirce can stop drinking the Wendy Kool-Aid and write another JG column to set the record straight. Fat chance!
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
8 comments:
Any comments on IMAGINE schools and their scores going down?
I'm very disappointed that the only publicly funded alternative to FWCS is not doing better. But as I've said before, if they can't do any better, they deserve to go out of business. Unfortunately we can't put Wendy out of business until we come up with something better.
Regard ISTEPS-Some positives from a parents view: My son (3rd grader) did well; he also had an awesome teacher this year. She taught to the curiculum, but she also added some challenges and alternatives, which were great- especially in the math area.
I also like the fact that scores were mailed home and now there's a detailed on-line review of specific scores and areas that need improvement. Math "problem solving" seemed to have the lowest scores at grade 3, which is interesting given the fact that that "Everday Math" emphasizes that skill. Perhaps it improves with each grade level.
I'd like to see a percentile in the scores, much like the ACT and SAT, but not sure if that is possible. There's just a comparison to the State average and the minimum criteria.
Next year will be a better gauge, as I expect to see improvements each year from this baseline.
On another note, I see Homestead and East Noble made the list of Newsweek's top high schools. Congrats to them!
Jules-
You're right. There are teachers in the system who are able to make a difference. I wish we could differentiate them and pay them better. And I would be happy to see a 2% real improvement (relative to the state) and have that modest level of increase for the next 10 years. That would put the district in a much better position relative to their competition.
But the 5/6% they were celebrating wasn't real. Why do they have to cheapen a modest but realistic improvement with all that hype?
Jules,
One of the reasons your son will likely improve and continue to do so is that you are engaged. The teacher does matter, but even a great teacher struggles to overcome a parent that doesn’t pay attention for whatever reason. If you look at the bottom 25% of FWCS main stream students I would bet that the vast majority of them have never looked at their students Isteps score.
Jon- You're probably right. And the ISTEP scores are a much better indication of achievment. They mirror what I've seen in high school math classes. Course grades, on the other hand are all over the place. There is little uniformity in grading among teachers, most of whom are too generous and eager to get their kids to pass.
I would like to mention that it is hard for some school districts to make improvements because their scores from the previous years were so high that it is nearly impossible to improve on them. Considering FWCS scores were so low a 5 to 6 (really 2) percent increase is not that impressive. Keep spinning Mr. Pierce.
Keep in mind once coming up with on taking your current newest income stub or it might be proof of revenue whereas your current driver’s allow or it might be think again My relative and that i. Deb.. primarily with you money advance, having the money {you'll need|you can need|you'll have} will doubtless be our main priority. several folks attain our much better to payday loan for you mobile form your own residence house loan understanding comprehensive positively helpful, several folks need need that you simply typically rummage around for all folks concerning the fast funding desires.
Post a Comment