NUSD Celebrates STAR Test Results

Measured gains in writing and science were being celebrated at the on Friday as the 2012 results came through from Standardized Testing and Reporting Program.

The STAR test provides evidence of continued growth for local students, said Vicki Romero, director of curriculum and instruction.

“We applaud our teachers, administrators and support staff for their commitment to the academic achievement of all learners,” she said.

Here are some highlights for Novato public school students. (All results can be found by clicking here).

• The percentage students in grades 2-5 who scored advanced or proficient in English Language Arts matched or exceeded the results from the previous year.
• At the elementary level, more than 74 percent of students scored advanced or proficient in math.
• In elementary grades, the number of students advanced or proficient in science has reached 77 percent, an increase of 18 percent over a two-year period.
• Beginning in fall 2011, middle schools implemented algebra and geometry courses in seventh and eighth grades, and 95 percent scored advanced or proficient on the state exam.
• At the high school level, more students are taking advanced courses in math and science. In science, a higher percentage of students are scoring advanced and proficient on state end of course tests. As an example, chemistry scores increased 10 percent.
• Of fourth-grade students, 88 percent scored proficient or advanced on the California Standardized Test of Writing Applications. Since 2008, those scores have increased 28 percent.
• Of seventh grade students, 95 percent scored proficient or advanced on writing applications portion. That's an increase of 17 percent since 2008.

For a look at countywide results, check out this story in the .

State schools superintendent Tom Torlakson sent out a glowing statement touting how statewide scores in math and English-language arts have risen for the ninth year in a row.

“In less than a decade, California has gone from having only one student in three score proficient, to better than one student in two,” Torlakson said. “That’s nearly 900,000 more students reaching proficiency now than in 2003 — a remarkable achievement that represents real, sustained improvements in learning.”

Torlakson said the achievement is even more noteworthy considering how badly California schools are struggling financially these days.

“Even more remarkable is the fact that our students continue to make gains even as our schools and the teachers, administrators and school employees working in them are getting by with so much less,” Torlakson said. “As pleased as I am by the great progress many students are making, the deep school budget cuts of recent years make it ever less likely these gains will continue.”

“Preventing further cuts and beginning to restore what’s been lost are essential to helping every student learn and prepare for the future.”

Results for 2012 rose 3 percentage points over last year in English-language arts, and 1 percentage point in mathematics. Since 2003, the scores have risen 22 points in English-language arts - or from 35 to 57 percent scoring “proficient” or “advanced" - and 16 percentage points in math, or from 35 to 51 percent.

However, Torlakson said, while the STAR results show an increase in proficiency levels among all subgroups, a “persistent achievement gap” exists for African American, Latino, English-learner, and low-income students, compared to their peers.

“Like every teacher, parent, and principal, despite the decade of progress we’ve seen, I won’t be completely satisfied until every child has the opportunity to achieve his or her full potential,” Torlakson said.

The STAR tests consists of the following four components:

• “CST,” or California Standards Test
• “CMA,” or California Modified Assessment
• “CAPA,” or California Alternate Performance Assessment
• “STS,” or Standards-based Tests in Spanish

According to the CA DOE, the CSTs for English–language arts (ELA), mathematics, science, and history–social science are administered only to students in California public schools. Except for a writing component that is administered as part of the fourth-grade and seventh-grade ELA tests, all questions are multiple-choice.

The CA DOE’s website explains, “These tests were developed specifically to assess students' knowledge of the California content standards. The State Board of Education adopted these standards, which specify what all children in California are expected to know and be able to do in each grade or course. “

CST scores are used for calculating each school's Academic Performance Index and Adequate Yearly Progress scores.

Information about the API and AYP is posted on the CA DOE’s Accountability Progress Reporting website.

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