Colorado CSAP Results Released
Funding For School Districts Tied To Test Results
DENVER -- Fourteen percent of high school students passed the first statewide math tests given last spring, education officials said Wednesday.
It was the first time the math test has been given to high school students, mandated as part of Gov. Bill Owens' education reform. It focused heavily on geometry and algebra, which many high school students have chosen not to study. Education Commissioner Bill Moloney said the low scores should not be blamed on students, parents or teachers. He said the fault lies with policymakers who have allowed high school students to opt out of math. "We let those kids down. We're not going to say those kids can't cut it," Moloney said. "Some people will say the test is too hard. Others will say we can't expect our kids to be as good as in other countries. Are we going to say that? No, we are not going to say that," Moloney said. Sen. Norma Anderson, R-Lakewood, said she was stunned by the results and noted the math tests were drawn up by Colorado teachers. "Their expectations were that students could perform and they did not. Where's the problem?" she asked. The Colorado Student Achievement Test scores will be used by state Education Department officials to calculate an accountability report for every school, ranking it from unsatisfactory to excellent. Those ranked in the bottom 2 percent will have to write an improvement plan. Those that fail after three more years face a takeover of management and change to a charter school.
The tests, given earlier this year, included reading for grades 4-10, writing for 4, 7 and 10, math for 5, 8 and 10 and science for the eighth grade. For the first time, reading tests were for grades 5-6 and 8-9, and math for grades 5 and 10. About 750,000 tests were administered in 1,600 schools. Moloney also said the state will not release ratings for small schools where 15 or fewer students took the tests. He said the small number of students could identify individual students, which is barred by federal law. Anderson said the test scores could mean some high schools will receive unsatisfactory ratings when the scores are used to compute ratings. Moloney said his staff will resist any attempt to change the tests, noting the Legislature is barred by the state Constitution from recommending curricula. He said pressure should be put on school boards to mandate those courses. In other results, Moloney said white students scored 30 percentage points or higher than black and Hispanic students on reading tests. Over the past five years in 4th grade, where the tests have been given the longest, there has been an increase of 8 percentage points in reading and 7 points in writing. In 8th grade, where math and science tests were given last year, there was a 4 percentage point increase over last year. No geographic breakdown of the scores was provided. The raw test scores will tell parents little about which schools will receive unsatisfactory ratings on the reports due in September, officials have said. The scores include students with disabilities who took alternative tests, students not proficient in English and those who moved to the state after Oct. 1, all of which will be excluded when calculations are done for the reports. Under the school accountability law, schools that continue to fail an additional three years face sanctions that include throwing out managers and being changed into charter schools.
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The tests, given earlier this year, included reading for grades 4-10, writing for 4, 7 and 10, math for 5, 8 and 10 and science for the eighth grade. For the first time, reading tests were for grades 5-6 and 8-9, and math for grades 5 and 10. About 750,000 tests were administered in 1,600 schools. Moloney also said the state will not release ratings for small schools where 15 or fewer students took the tests. He said the small number of students could identify individual students, which is barred by federal law. Anderson said the test scores could mean some high schools will receive unsatisfactory ratings when the scores are used to compute ratings. Moloney said his staff will resist any attempt to change the tests, noting the Legislature is barred by the state Constitution from recommending curricula. He said pressure should be put on school boards to mandate those courses. In other results, Moloney said white students scored 30 percentage points or higher than black and Hispanic students on reading tests. Over the past five years in 4th grade, where the tests have been given the longest, there has been an increase of 8 percentage points in reading and 7 points in writing. In 8th grade, where math and science tests were given last year, there was a 4 percentage point increase over last year. No geographic breakdown of the scores was provided. The raw test scores will tell parents little about which schools will receive unsatisfactory ratings on the reports due in September, officials have said. The scores include students with disabilities who took alternative tests, students not proficient in English and those who moved to the state after Oct. 1, all of which will be excluded when calculations are done for the reports. Under the school accountability law, schools that continue to fail an additional three years face sanctions that include throwing out managers and being changed into charter schools. Previous Stories:
Additional Resources:- May 4, 2001: Statewide CSAP Results Released
- March 15, 2001: 17 CSAP Tests Stolen From Boulder High School
- March 9, 2001: DPS Weighing Options On 24 Low-Performing Schools
- March 8, 2001: Battle Over CSAP Scores Looms
- March 6, 2001: Principal Resigns For Giving Students Second Chance At CSAP Test
- January 18, 2001: Parents Take CSAP Test
Copyright 2004 by TheDenverChannel.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
