Making the grade
STAR results continue improving across PUSD
By André Coleman 08/19/2010
Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) results released Monday by the California Department of Education showed continued improvement by Pasadena Unified School District students in math and English language arts.
Advanced and proficient scores in English increased by 4 percent this year, raising the district’s five-year increase to 12 percent, according to a statement released by the district.
Secondary students — grades 6 though 12 — posted the biggest gain in English as ninth-grade students posted an 8 percent increase, followed by a 7 percent gain among eighth-graders. Math scores increased by 2 percent among sixth through 12th graders
“This is strong and clear evidence that our emphasis on middle and high school students is producing results,” Superintendent Edwin Diaz said in a prepared statement. “The data is promising and demonstrates that district initiatives to improve instruction in grades 6 through 12 have begun to be reflected in rising test scores.”
California’s STAR program reports performance in five levels: advanced, proficient, basic, below basic and far below basic. Only advanced and proficient levels are considered as meeting state grade-level standards.
“The growth in achievement is evident among every subgroup of students,” state Superintendent Jack O’Connell said in a prepared statement. O’Connell appeared at Cleveland Elementary School Monday, the day the test results were made public.
“However,” O’Connell stated, “we must continue to pay close attention to the achievement gap that shows students of color and poverty are trailing behind their peers. My administration has focused on closing the achievement gap, and I am pleased to see that among Latino students the gap has narrowed since last year.” However, he said, “I remain concerned that we are not seeing similar narrowing trends among African Americans.”
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