Benton takes first look at test scores

By JIM MAGDEFRAU, Star Press Union editor

VAN HORNE – Benton Community officials took their first look at test data from this school year on student performance at the Benton Community Board of Directors meeting June 17 in Van Horne.

Presenting the data were Atkins Elementary Principal Jason West and Middle School Principal Jo Prusha.

West presented scores from the Iowa Test of Basic Skills and Iowa Test of Educational Development for third, fourth, fifth and sixth graders, showing how students compared to other students in the state and nation, plus how students have progressed from year to year.

Overall, the scores were good. West said one area to work on is vocabulary, which tested lower than math, science and reading.

West also presented data on grade equivalency from kindergarten to sixth grade, focusing on different facets of reading, including comprehension skills, fluency and reading rate. The test is given in the fall and spring to see how students have progressed. He said the tests showed good results.

West also said science is strong at every grade level, thanks in part to new materials for science.

Prusha gave a presentation on middle/senior high school achievement, presenting not just the data, but how to interpret the data.

Prusha stressed the schools need to move away for “cardiac data,” which means “in your heart,” schools know they are doing well. They have to show they are doing well.

“We are moving away from knowing that good things are happening to insisting good things are happening,” she stressed.

To do this, Benton works through Chapter 12 testing, ITED, No Child Left Behind, and external measures for system improvement.

Data can be “norm” referenced, based on expectations and criteria, compared to past years to show growth.

A “norm” is how students compare to others in the same group who took a test, as well as compared to others in the nation, state and local school.

“Norm” is the average student, Prusha said.

Other terms explained, including “proficient.” She said this is a score in the 41st percentile based on national norms set in 2000-2001. Grade equivalency is scoring in the 50th percentile of a grade group.

These results are used to make students and school better. She stressed, “We’re all about making our students better and making our school system better. There is always room for growth,” she said.

She pointed out the ACT test taken by Benton students has Benton above the national and state average for the past five years. The same goes for the PLAN and PSAT tests.

The ACT test shows areas where students have performed well, as well as areas that need work, Prusha said.

The school goes not just by the numbers from these tests, but from results from a variety of tests and assessments.

Board president Brenda Schanbacher asked about the test scores used for comparison in the newspaper. Prusha said the scores show only what is required. It’s also difficult to compare scores to other schools, since some area schools offer incentives, such as iPods, if the students score well. She questioned if this makes it a standardized test. She added about incentives, “It is an important test, but all we do is important.” Students need to understand they can do better because they know they can,  not because they are going to get an iPod, she added.

Schanbacher asked what the strategies are when scores start to drop. Prusha said statewide scores tend to drop as students get older. The staff talks to students so they can understand their scores, and makes adjustments to curriculum, instruction and assessments. One such approach is second chance reading at the elementary level so students are ready for the secondary level. In the early grades, students are learning to read. When they are older, they have to read to learn.

Board member Tricia Schutterle expressed concern about students with individual education plans who are struggling to read.

Board member Terry Harrington said students need to be challenged to take more challenging courses.

Superintendent Gary Zittergruen said he would have a calendar made for school improvement topics for the next school year, feeling this is information the board needs to know.

UPDATED June 18, 2009 4:21 PM