The Bellwood-Antis School Board of Directors learned last night the district is on a state warning list because a couple students in an economically disadvantaged group scored lower than the state’s required average score.
Donald Wagner, the district’s administrative assistant, presented the information last evening during the school board’s work session. He detailed how well the district performed on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment test, but explained that because just a few students in the middle school subgroup scored a total of 1.7 percent lower than the state required minimum in the math portion, the district is now on a warning list.
“There are no consequences because we’re on this list,” said Wagner. “But if we show up there next year, there could be problems.”
According to Wagner, all public schools and districts statewide are required to administer the test to fifth, eighth and eleventh grade students as part of President George W. Bush’s “No Child Left Behind” campaign.
The requirement is a minimum percentage of advanced or proficient to meet Adequate Yearly Progress. These percentages are 35 percent in the math scores and 45 percent in the reading scores.
“Overall, this district did pretty well in the scores,” said Wagner. “We were above everything, except for in the subgroup of economically disadvantaged. That has caused us to be placed on the list.”
According to Wagner, in addition to the economically disadvantage group, the state also tests ethnic minorities, limited English proficiency and special needs groups. If there are 40 or more students in any of these subgroups in a grade level or school building, the PSSA reading and math scores for that group will be compared to the AYP standards.
During the 2003 testing year, there was only one such group in the Bellwood-Antis School District, and that was the economically disadvantage, which scored just 33.30 percent in the advanced/proficient range in the math scores. In reading, the group performed above the average with a 52.50 percentage.
“The first year of failure to meet AYP standards is considered a “warning” year. There are no consequences,” said Wagner. “If we fail to meet the AYP requirements for a second year, we will be placed under “School Improvement” and be forced to offer school choice, develop a school improvement plan and work with an assistance team provided by the Pennsylvania Department of Education.”
Wagner said the district will now focus intently on our economically disadvantaged subgroup.
“The standardized test scores for these students are being analyzed to detect areas of weakness,” said Wagner. “Teachers and aides will be providing specialize instruction to these students based on this analysis.”
All other areas seem OK.
In grade five math scores, 29.2 percent of B-A students scored in the advanced range, while 31.9 percent were classified as proficient for a total of 61.1 percent – or 26.1 percent higher than the required average. The fifth grade class also had 22.1 percent classified as basic and 16.8 percent below basic.
In the grade five reading scores, 31.9 percent of students scored in the advanced range, while 36.3 percent were classified as proficient for a total of 68.2 percent – or 23.2 percent higher than the required average. The fifth grade class also had 23.9 percent classified as basic and 8 percent below basic.
In grade eight math scores, 12.8 percent of students scored in the advanced range, while 31.6 percent were classified as proficient for a total of 44.4 percent – or 9.4 percent higher than the required average. The eighth grade class also had 23.9 percent classified as basic and 31.6 percent below basic.
In grade eight reading scores, 34.7 percent of students scored in the advanced range, while 43.2 percent were classified as proficient for a total of 77.9 percent – or 32.9 percent higher than the required average. The eighth grade class also had 12.7 percent classified as basic and 9.3 percent classified as below basic.
In grade 11 math scores, 13.5 percent of student scored in the advanced range, while 27.9 were classified as proficient for a total of 41.4 percent – or 41.4 percent higher than the required average. The eleventh grade class also had 26.9 percent classified as basic and 13.5 percent classified as below basic.
The state also measures eleventh grade in writing. Just a single percent scored in the advanced range, while 74 percent scored in the proficient range. Thirteen percent of students were classified as basic and 12 percent as below basic.
No AYP standards have been established for writing.
