STAR watching STAR watching (September 10, 2004)

Academic testing results released
by Teresa C. Brown

Pleasanton students continue to improve under California standards with the district's introduction of algebra at middle school level showing up in the numbers.

Algebra I became the test to watch in California's STAR (Standardized Testing and Reporting) assessment as students, who took the math course in middle school during the last two years, advance through high school.

"Our major concern is to try to increase access to higher level courses to students," said Cengiz Gulek, Pleasanton Unified School District's director of Assessment and Evaluation.

The concern resulted in offering Algebra I to all seventh- and eighth-grade students two years ago. It previously was offered only to honor students.

Comparing across the grade levels from grade 11 to 8, the percentage of students who tested to be advanced or proficient dramatically increased in the eighth grade.

Seventy-seven percent of the eighth-grade enrollment was tested, with 61 percent testing advanced and proficient. In the 10th grade, 10.5 percent were tested and only 6 percent of this number had results in the upper range.

On the surface, offering Algebra I to a broader segment of school enrollment appears to have lowered scores. Test scores have decreased from two years ago when 94 percent of tested eighth-graders scored advanced or proficient. However, only 23 percent of eighth-graders were tested.

At that time, only high-achieving students took Algebra I in middle school, Gulek said, adding that a direct comparison from those scores several years ago against the 2004 results must take that into consideration.

The increased number of students taking the tests in lower grade levels is a positive sign, Gulek said.

This year, geometry is also reflecting the results of more students taking the course sooner. In the 2004 STAR, more than half of, or 664, ninth-graders were tested, with 69 percent scoring advanced or proficient.

In 2003, only 22 percent in ninth grade were tested, and in 2002 only 18 percent were tested, both with 93 percent scoring advanced or proficient.

Gulek explained why more students were being tested in geometry. Two years ago, a seventh-grade student could have taken the first half of Algebra I in grade 7 and the second half in grade 8. By grade 9, he or she could be ready to take geometry, he said.

In English language arts, a majority of students from grades 2 to 11 scored in the advanced or proficient percentile, with 75 percent of the 99.1 percent of fourth-graders tested scoring in the two highest ranges.

On the other hand, 12 and 19 percent, respectively, of students in grades 10 and 11 scored below basic or far below basic.

In eighth-grade history, nearly 99 percent tested with 63 percent scoring advanced or proficient. Tenth-grade world history results were similar with 98 percent testing and 68 percent scoring in the highest ranges.

Also released was the 2004 Accountability Progress Report. The report contains the Academic Performance Index (API), too, which measures school's academic progress with an API range exceeding 800 being considered exemplary.

All of PUSD schools' API exceeded 800, with only one school, Alisal Elementary, falling in a 2003 API comparison. Alisal dropped from 872 to 865.

Lydiksen Elementary failed to meet its participation rate for Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP), part of the accountability report.

Parents can opt not to have their children take the tests, Gulek explained, and this lack of participation is the reason why Lydiksen did not meet participation rate. Lydiksen missed meeting the participation rate by three students.

In Lydiksen's particular case, parents of 10 children in a significantly sized subgroup, special education, chose to remove their children from testing, Gulek said.

While state law allows for the parents to opt students out of testing, the school cannot do anything other than try to talk to parents, he said.

Ultimately, if the testing participation level in one subgroup falls to below 95 percent, the school is labeled as not meeting AYP criteria.

Lydiksen has a very high achievement rate, Gulek said, noting that its API of 892 far exceeds state expectations.

Next year, the school will try to talk to parents, Gulek said. "They can still decide not to participate, but at least they'll know."

The PUSD board trustees will review the STAR results at their next regular meeting Tuesday.

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