[Southsider2k12]

http://thenewsdispatch.com/main.asp?Sectio...amp;TM=51540.49

No change in ISTEP+ scores

Joseph Malan
The News-Dispatch

MICHIGAN CITY - Newly released fall ISTEP+ scores for Michigan City Area Schools show nearly identical numbers to last year.

The report, released by the Indiana Department of Education on Thursday, shows MCAS retained a 58.6 percent passing rate in English/Language Arts, while posting a 62.4 percent passing rate in math.

Although the numbers remain the same as last year's, the state's benchmark, or Adequate Yearly Progress threshold, increased by 7 percentage points for each category. This means that, although passing rates didn't drop, the school corporation has a lot to improve on, said Betsy Kohn, director of communications for MCAS.

"I think it's a challenge for many districts in the state," Kohn said. "We're not alone in this. If you take a look at the statewide data, it's something many districts across the state are facing."

Although other districts around the state may maintain low to average ISTEP+ passing rates, the state held a 71 percent passing rate in English/Language Arts and a 74 percent rate in math. This, too, is down from last year's marks, when the state posted a 72.1 percent passing rate in English/Language Arts and a 74.7 percent rate in math.

Dr. Jan Radford, MCAS director of K-12 curriculum, said she's thankful there was no drop in the passing rates for the corporation.

When I'm looking at (the state's numbers), I know we still have work to do," Radford said. "While the state saw a little bit of a drop, at least when we averaged our numbers across the grade level, they stayed the same. So, for that, I can be grateful."

In MCAS, Springfield Elementary scored the highest composite passing rate in math, at 75 percent. Coolspring Elementary had the second highest rate at 74.3 percent.

In English/Language Arts, Coolspring topped elementary schools with a 71.7 percent passing rate, while Springfield came in with a 69.7 percent passing rate.

In secondary schools, Barker Middle School had considerably higher passing rates than both Elston and Krueger. For the three schools, the passing percentage rates for math were 80.3, 54.3 and 67, respectively. In English/Language Arts, the percentages came in at 69, 53 and 52.

Michigan City High School scored a 54 percent rate in math and a 56 percent rate in English/Language Arts.

Kohn, in a prepared statement, said some grades in MCAS showed notable improvements in math scores. For seventh grade students, scores improved 4 percent, and for 10th grade, scores jumped 10 percentage points.

"The success we are seeing in math is the direct result of implementing the Everyday Math curriculum in grades kindergarten to six," Radford said. "Everyday Math works because it is a proven, research-based program that gives students a chance to practice material even as they learn new concepts."

The inability of passing rates to rise above Adequate Yearly Progress thresholds highlighted one of many concerns for MCAS, according to Kohn.

In another alarming statistic, it was found that African-American achievement was 26 percentage points lower than the achievement of white students on average in all grades, incorporating both math and English/Language Arts.

Kohn said she hopes the switch of the ISTEP+ to the spring of 2009 will improve scores overall. During the fall semester, Kohn said students were basically tested for what they learned the previous year.

For example, a fifth-grade student taking the ISTEP+ during the fall semester would be tested on things they learned in the fourth grade.

This spring, that will change when students are tested on what they have learned over the current year.

"We're looking at it as a positive thing," Kohn said.

Contact Joseph Malan at jmalan@thenewsdispatch.com.

[Roger Kaputnik]

It sounds like if wages are the same but inflation way up.

[Johnny Rush]

Here are some cool charts and breakdowns of the school system...

http://mustang.doe.state.in.us/SEARCH/snapcorp.cfm?corp=4925

[Ang]

Dr. Jan Radford, MCAS director of K-12 curriculum, said she's thankful there was no drop in the passing rates for the corporation.

I'm sure she is, but slightly more than half passing is a travesty IMO. What I get out of this news story is that MCAS is satisfied with these results. That is an even bigger travesty.

When I'm looking at (the state's numbers), I know we still have work to do," Radford said. "While the state saw a little bit of a drop, at least when we averaged our numbers across the grade level, they stayed the same. So, for that, I can be grateful."

Crap! To me this shows no ambition to improve. "Oh, it's okay, cause the state numbers dropped but we stayed the same. Nevermind the fact that only slighly more than half our students are passing. That number didn't go down so we have something to be proud of ourselves over."

"I think it's a challenge for many districts in the state," Kohn said. "We're not alone in this. If you take a look at the statewide data, it's something many districts across the state are facing."

I get real tired of people comparing MC to the rest of the state. Friedman does the same thing with the assessor controversy. I don't care what's going on in Carmel, or Brazil, or Peru, or even South Bend. What's going on in Michigan City is what's important to me. Not the rest of the state. It's a cop-out. A way to divert attention from the ineptitude.

In MCAS, Springfield Elementary scored the highest composite passing rate in math, at 75 percent. Coolspring Elementary had the second highest rate at 74.3 percent.

In English/Language Arts, Coolspring topped elementary schools with a 71.7 percent passing rate, while Springfield came in with a 69.7 percent passing rate.

Excellent Job! These schools have the two of the best Principals and it shows.
(before anyone gets offended.eric., they are not the only two good principals, but are among the best, which IMO is only about 4 total-Pine is included. )

[Roger Kaputnik]

You are right on the money with each point, Ang.

[JoeJ]

What did Forrest' mom always tell him, "stupid is as stupid does". Our schools suck, blame Harding, blame the teachers, but it all starts at home. Dumb parents equal dumb kids. When we have parents using the school system as child care and then threaten to sue at the drop of a hat. I will say it again and again. There is no way in hell my kid is going to school with these idiots.

I heard of a school (locally) last year thinking of sending food home on the weekend for the kids to eat. Are you F---ing kidding me? Is this what my tax dollars go to to feeding some idiot kids on the weekend? NO WAY IN HECK.

Joe

[Southsider2k12]

What did Forrest' mom always tell him, "stupid is as stupid does". Our schools suck, blame Harding, blame the teachers, but it all starts at home. Dumb parents equal dumb kids. When we have parents using the school system as child care and then threaten to sue at the drop of a hat. I will say it again and again. There is no way in hell my kid is going to school with these idiots.

I heard of a school last thinking of sending food home on the weekend for the kids to eat. Are you F---ing kidding me? Is this what my tax dollars go to to feeding some idiot kids on the weekend? NO WAY IN HECK.

Joe

Why punish the kids who have "dumb parents"? Not to mention the reason would be talking about sending food home with parents is because of the ultra-poor status of some of the kids in our school system. We literally have kids who are homeless in Michigan City and attending our schools. If they don't eat at school, they go hungry.

[Ang]

The schools are sending food home with the kids?!?!?!

OMG!!

I had a voice mail message from my daughter's principal the other day. She said that I owed $11.45 on my daughter's lunch account and they would not provide her with a meal until it was paid ahead!! Can you believe that? She said I would either have to send the amount owed, plus lunch money for the day or a brown bag if I wanted my daughter to eat. So, the school's here will deny your child a meal if you don't pay in advance. And your schools are sending food home with the kids!

Amazing!

[Roger Kaputnik]

We are paying for 59% of the kids' lunches. I am gonna go to make sure they are eating their my vegetables!

[JoeJ]

Why punish the kids who have "dumb parents"? Not to mention the reason would be talking about sending food home with parents is because of the ultra-poor status of some of the kids in our school system. We literally have kids who are homeless in Michigan City and attending our schools. If they don't eat at school, they go hungry.

Wait for it, wait for it - oh, yeah not my problem. This system is so screwed up. I am not even sure where to begin. I pay my taxes, I give my old clothes to the goodwill, I even give my old suits to...NO WAY should any school pack food for a kid so the kid could take it home on the weekends.

Can we inch ever so much closer to a socialist society?

Joe

[eric.hanke]

My 3 children attend Pine Elementary, a Title I School, which has lost thousands of remediation dollars to the Early Childhood (waste of tax dollars) Learning Center. The loss of those dollars has directly hurt the ISTEP performance at Pine and other Title I Schools:

Pine Elementary Grade 3 ISTEP Results 2006-2009



Niemann Elementary Grade 3 ISTEP Results 2006-2009

Looks like I am scheduling a meeting with Dr. Jan Radford regarding these poor scores. In my opinoin, no change is equal to a decrease since the state standards go up every year.

Don't get me wrong, if the Early Learning Center can prove results, we are waiting on the results of an $11k study, I will wholeheartedly support the program. We must demand constant evaluations of ALL MCAS curriculum in order for our schools to improve.

Anyone can take some of the numbers, apply a little spit, and make them shine. Those of us who are intelligent can actually see through the smoke and mirrors show the MCAS Administration is trying to fool us with and see the truth. They are not doing their jobs and are students and local community are paying the consequences.

"The success we are seeing in math is the direct result of implementing the Everyday Math curriculum in grades kindergarten to six," Radford said. "Everyday Math works because it is a proven, research-based program that gives students a chance to practice material even as they learn new concepts."

We are raising a stupid core of students who will rely on electronic calculators to perform calculations.

Anyone with children in MCAS can tell you, Everyday Math, sucks. It teaches reliance on calculators for problems that are difficult. Magnolia and I battle with our children’s teacher at Pine every year regarding this ludicrous program. Magnolia, a full time student at PNC working toward a double major in Biology and Chemistry, and me both teach the “standard” method for performing division and multiplication.

I cannot verbalize how much I hate this program, not to mention the obscene amount of money the MCAS pays for using it.

Everyday Math YouTube Demonstration

Everyday Math - The Lattice Method

[JoeJ]

My wife is a pretty smart woman and why she married we have no idea. However, she read a book recently, I think she is on her 50th of the year. Schools who do this testing method all they tend to teach is how to pass the test. How utterly sad is that? There is a school in Atlanta that took away recess because they thought it would help the kids learn more, WRONG.

Why are we letting kids get out of the first grade that can't read?

Joe

[JoeJ]

Good for you Eric, you are a concerned parent, but for every one of you there are a 100 that don't care just as long as the kids have someplace to go between 8 and 3 every day.

Joe

[Roger Kaputnik]

Eric, I looked at those video re everyday math--I normally do not voluntarily use this kind of language, BUT WHAT THE FLAP IS THAT CRAP?!

The normal colleges are out of whack coming up with this stuff. Have any of you ever seen a Saxon math book? Looks mighty familiar to those of us who witnessed an entire class of 30--yes, 30--students learn how to multiply, divide, etc.

This is the kind of program that is creating the biggest divide in our society, viz., those who have parents or another adult who cares about knowledge and competence, and those who are subjected to the stuff like Everyday Math.

[Southsider2k12]

Wait for it, wait for it - oh, yeah not my problem. This system is so screwed up. I am not even sure where to begin. I pay my taxes, I give my old clothes to the goodwill, I even give my old suits to...NO WAY should any school pack food for a kid so the kid could take it home on the weekends.

Can we inch ever so much closer to a socialist society?

Joe

These are the kids that are going to be paying your social security. The funny thing is that in this world, there is no such thing as not my problem.

And to me it is telling that kids starving doesn't bother you. I feel sad that you have no care about the future of our children.

[JoeJ]

These are the kids that are going to be paying your social security. The funny thing is that in this world, there is no such thing as not my problem.

And to me it is telling that kids starving doesn't bother you. I feel sad that you have no care about the future of our children.

I am sure when I am of age of SS, it won't be there, ad I am sure I won't need it. It does bother me, but it is not the schools place to be doing that.

[eric.hanke]

Eric, I looked at those video re everyday math--I normally do not voluntarily use this kind of language, BUT WHAT THE FLAP IS THAT CRAP?!

The normal colleges are out of whack coming up with this stuff. Have any of you ever seen a Saxon math book? Looks mighty familiar to those of us who witnessed an entire class of 30--yes, 30--students learn how to multiply, divide, etc.

This is the kind of program that is creating the biggest divide in our society, viz., those who have parents or another adult who cares about knowledge and competence, and those who are subjected to the stuff like Everyday Math.

I wholeheartedly agree. We actually pay, ALOT an obscene amount of money for the rights to use and the materials to teach this program. I will have exact figures following my meeting with Dr. Radford.

Everytime I think about calling a MCAS administrator "Dr." should I genuflect or something to make them feel even more important?

Everyday math teaches reliance on calculators to complete difficult problems. I can’t remember when I first touched a calculator in Elementary School at Coolspring, maybe 6th grade in Mr. Pelath or Steels's classes; and then again at Krueger Junior High in the more advanced math classes to graph, and then definitely in Mr. Tilden’s pre-calculus class and my advanced science classes for Mr. Tilden.

Each of my children's math books, using that term loosly, devotes chapters, on calculator usage. their books at first glance could be taken for a social studies or general science text due to the lack of focus on mathematics.

*SIGH*

[kharris]

I wholeheartedly agree. We actually pay, ALOT an obscene amount of money for the rights to use and the materials to teach this program. I will have exact figures following my meeting with Dr. Radford.

Everytime I think about calling a MCAS administrator "Dr." should I genuflect or something to make them feel even more important?

Everyday math teaches reliance on calculators to complete difficult problems. I can’t remember when I first touched a calculator in Elementary School at Coolspring, maybe 6th grade in Mr. Pelath or Steels's classes; and then again at Krueger Junior High in the more advanced math classes to graph, and then definitely in Mr. Tilden’s pre-calculus class and my advanced science classes for Mr. Tilden.

Each of my children's math books, using that term loosly, devotes chapters, on calculator usage. their books at first glance could be taken for a social studies or general science text due to the lack of focus on mathematics.

*SIGH*

I may be considered old fashioned in this day of computers, but I advocate learning the math before being able to use calculators. As a society we have become far too reliant on the use of computers and calculators to do the work for us. There is something to be said for first learning the logic behind the math so that there is a strong understanding of the basics before letting a machine do the work. The same goes for spelling and grammar. I remember having to write reports using typewriters and then having to re-type pages after proof reading and finding spelling and/or grammar errors. Computers nowadays will correct your spelling and provide suggestions for grammatical errors. The student no longer finds their own errors, the machine does it for them. I believe this heavy computer reliance makes us weaker as a society. And this comes from a guy who makes a living with computers.

[Southsider2k12]

I may be considered old fashioned in this day of computers, but I advocate learning the math before being able to use calculators. As a society we have become far too reliant on the use of computers and calculators to do the work for us. There is something to be said for first learning the logic behind the math so that there is a strong understanding of the basics before letting a machine do the work. The same goes for spelling and grammar. I remember having to write reports using typewriters and then having to re-type pages after proof reading and finding spelling and/or grammar errors. Computers nowadays will correct your spelling and provide suggestions for grammatical errors. The student no longer finds their own errors, the machine does it for them. I believe this heavy computer reliance makes us weaker as a society. And this comes from a guy who makes a living with computers.

I agree 100%. You have to understand the body, before you can start to cure it.

[Tom Burns]

I agree 100%. You have to understand the body, before you can start to cure it.

I know of a middle school child in Michigan City who got "gentlemens' Cs" who transferred to one of the better school systems in an adjacent state and almost failed to graduate because expectations there were so much higher. When you are in a boat on the water you may not notice the water level drop slowly until you suddenly enter much deeper water as was shown in the instance described here.