ACCOUNTABILITY AND ASSESSMENT
It's time to assess our current academic programs to raise student academic achievement. Let's examine all assessment data to revise our current curriculum and align it with the highest achieving districts in California and the nation. Let's provide strong support programs especially for low achieveing students. Let's offer appropriate staff development that is driven by classroom teacher needs.
Accountability and Assessment are essential for raising student academic achievement.
Let's assess our current academic programs to raise student academic achievement. Let's:
- Compare student GPAs in required Math and English courses with university, state and community college entrance exam results in Math and English.
- Compare student subject grades with related college entrance exam results such as the SAT and Act.
- Assess all students falling below grade level on the state testing program to determine weaknesses in academic curriculum and teacher training.
- Determine why similar districts outscore us on the state required SAT/9 testing.
- Determine why students do not read on grade level by the end of the third grade.
These concerns and others will only be addressed when we are willing to take a close look at the assessment data we receive on our students every year. We should do the following:
- Disaggregate test scores to ascertain individual student, classroom and school performance in all areas of the curriculum.
- Measure student growth through comparison of testing data from year to year and from one grade level to the next.
- Review community, state and university subject entrance exam data to determine the weaknesses of our educational programs.
- Compare our students' test scores with the test scores of students from similar districts in California and across the country to determine if we are teaching the same subject matter at the same grade level.
It's time to hold our district accountable. Let's:
- Establish a district wide committee of teachers, parents, curriculum specialists and the assessment director to review assessment data and our current academic curriculum, teacher training, and educational support programs.
- Use multiple forms of assessment to determine student performance potential.
- Develop and implement strong student support programs to help all students reach grade level or subject area expectations.
- Publicize timely information that discusses our progress towards meeting the adopted academic standards.
- Offer staff training in all areas of curriculum requiring improvement.
- Enhance partnerships with the city, community, parents and businesses in the support of student learning and the achievement of high academic standards.
- Hold individual schools accountable for yearly improvement towards meeting adopted academic standards.
Every General Fund dollar we spend should be connected to student learning and student achievement.
SAT/9 results are available from the state Department of Education at: http://star.cde.ca.gov
SAT and advanced Placement data at: http://www.cde.ca.gov/ope/epic
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