By Kate Anslinger
The MCAS (Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System) results were presented to the School Committee Monday night, as well as a plan of attack to better the scores in the future.
The MCAS program is used to hold schools and districts accountable, on a yearly basis, for the progress they have made toward the objective of the No Child Left Behind Law that all students be proficient in reading and mathematics. A summary of test scores listed below has led the School Committee to exam a way to raise these scores:
- ELA (English Language Arts): In 2011-2013, grade eight was above state average and dipped down in 2014 and 2015
- ELA for high needs in 2014 was on track with the state level, but dipped below in 2015
- Student growth-dropped below state average in 2015
- The CPI scores for ELA have been consistent with the state level and high needs has made a significant increase and made improvements in growth for 2014 and 2015, which is very positive for Winthrop. CPI (Composite Performance Index), includes the average score of all students in the district, including high needs students. High need students are categorized as students with disabilities and low income.
- Math for both all students and high needs was way above state average in 2014, however it has gone down as the state average has risen. Student growth for Math was up in 2014 and down in 2015
Math seems to pose the biggest challenge for students, however; it was confirmed that students with poor test scores also have poor grades, therefore it is adamant that the focus is on the students’ needs at an individual level. The committee members agree that in order for the students to persevere in math, it is in the school department’s best interest to hire qualified math teachers and to offer funding for professional development for current teachers.
“We have to increase the funding. The number one thing in our community is the education of our children, said School Committee member Maryalice Sharkey. “We have outstanding math teachers in our elementary schools, but they don’t have the highly qualified certs (certifications) and we need to help them get trained. We can’t do it on the funds that we have.â€
There has been an unusually high turnover rate with teachers in recent years and the loss of long-term, qualified teachers seems to be the cause of the students decline in scores. There is a lot of motivation to get these students the resources they need.
One goal that shows promise is the implementation of ISSP (Individual Student Success Plans). The plan is a strategy to be used on a classroom and school-wide basis so the student receives competency. This is a plan that was placed in the past and will be brought back in the near future. The goal is to identify the students who are exhibiting low scores, and to work with them one on one.
Guidance counselors will work with parents, teachers and students to build the individualized plans.
Superintendent of Schools John Macero, emphasized the need for internal assessments.
“Internal assessments are important,†Macero said. “We have to get into more and more individualized needs. It’s one on one time that will make students successful moving forward.â€
Other topics of discussion Monday night included:
- October is National Bullying Prevention Month. Parents and teachers need to be vigilant about monitoring children’s cyber interactions.
- The committee discussed the potential addition of a new math teacher next year.
- A new maintenance program will be put in place. The goal is to bring in a person who will be assigned to the maintenance at all schools and proficient in the new technology systems.
- The Marianna Fabiano accessible playground ceremony is scheduled for Nov. 7 at 10 a.m. on the Gorman Fort Banks school grounds. –