NBAHS had a big year

North Branch Area High School is the only high school in the state to make the Star Tribune's top ten list for improvements in math. The school realized an 18% improvement!

Read more about the district's AYP results here.

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NBAPS as a business

We have compiled a document entitled "NBAPS as a Business," which gives an overview of the size and scope of district operations. It also shows what the district receives and spends in specific areas relative to the state averages. I hope it will answer many questions people have about the district.

You can review this two-page, easy to read summary by clicking here.

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More on math scores

Yesterday, I posted more detailed information on District math scores. Last night at the School Board meeting, I got into the subject of MCA II scores in more detail, including how proud we are of reading scores and how concerned we are with math scores. I also discussed the efforts we making to provide math remediation and get those scores up next year.

For your convenience, here is a podcast of those remarks:



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Understanding math scores

There has been some confusion expressed over 11th grade MCA II math scores, primarily because of the many ways to measure the results. Here is some information I hope will prove helpful in understanding the many percentages being reported.

There are many factors at play when measuring the results of MCA II math test scores.

First, the 11th grade MCA II math test is actually two tests in one: (1) The MCA II and (2) the imbedded GRAD standard test. The GRAD standard, which is a lower benchmark compared to "proficiency" on the MCA II math test, is 40 of the overall 65 questions contained in the test.

Second, there are various ways districts calculate achievement. For instance, North Branch Area Public Schools could measure 11th grade students scores' at the district wide level (which would include students at the Area Learning Center) or at North Branch Area High School. Depending on what is being measured, there can be a variety of percentages reported.

In an effort to make the reporting more understandable, we have compiled the multiple percentages for your information:

11th grade GRAD - Passing

District wide = 44.5%

High School = 48.0%

State average = 57.3%

11th grade MCA-II - Proficient

District wide = 30.7%

High School = 33.6%

State average = 41.6%

Something else to keep in mind is that the state has relaxed the math graduation requirements for the next five years, so students who do not pass the GRAD standard will still be able to graduate if certain conditions are met. I blogged about those conditions here.

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Math GRAD standards relaxed

For the next five years, students will be able to graduate from high school even if they don't pass the math GRAD test if these requirements are met:

• Complete all coursework and credits required for graduation
• Receive district-prescribed math remediation
• Take at least two retakes of the math GRAD test, or pass it, whichever comes first
• Pass the reading and writing GRAD tests

The exemptions were necessary due to the large number of students unable to pass the test. To put it in perspective, had these changes not been made to the standard, many tens of thousands of next year's seniors would not have been able to graduate. That would have been a catastrophe for the state and for kids.

Make no mistake, there are issues with the standard we hope can be worked out in the next five years. A move in the right direction would be to look at "end of course" exams instead of the cumulative test that exists now. In the meantime, we are just relieved the legislature put a stop gap in to prevent the worst case scenario from coming to fruition.

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Thinking creatively at the Capitol

Lori Sturdevant has an interesting column today, covering some of the education reform efforts happening at the legislature. I would be interested in hearing any thoughts you might have on this topic.

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The state discussing math standards

The news today is buzzing with activity surrounding the state math standards. MPR is focusing on support for changing the way we measure progress entirely:

One idea being discussed is to dump the GRAD and instead create so-called, 'end of course' exams. That means instead of needing to pass one test that measures everything you've learned since first grade, students would be tested at the end of certain courses, like Algebra II, on only that subject.

Education Commissioner Alice Seagren likes that idea because it's kind of like a final exam that also lets students know if they're also ready for college.

There are issues with this solution, such as cost, and according to MPR there is likely to be negotiations during the budget session.

The Star Tribune has more, including information on a bill addressing expected difficulties 2010 graduates may have passing the test:

According to a bill introduced Monday in the Minnesota Senate, students who fail the new math and reading graduation tests would have a temporary, alternate path to graduation if they are in seventh through 11th grades this year.

Students who don't pass the first time could still graduate if they meet three conditions: complete all other state and district graduation requirements; participate in the district's remediation program for the subject they failed, and try to pass the test two more times.

I was asked to comment on these issues and I will tell you what I told reporter Emily Johns; I would not be opposed to moving toward an "end of course" system of exams because I think it would be superior than the system we currently have in place. The assessment would be of much greater value to the teacher, and would allow students to take exams while material is fresh.

Expect more on this emerging debate in the months to come.

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