New Standards Set with State Scoring Changes

The State Education Department recently raised its proficiency standards for the English Language Arts and math tests for grades 3-8 to help better prepare children for college, but the change left some students who had originally passed the exam, with a failing grade.

Students who score at levels 3 and 4 are considered to have passed, while those in levels 1 and 2 are deemed as needing academic help. The new proficiency standard changed that, as those who scored at Level 3, are now at Level 2.

According to state officials, the majority of students in grades 3-8 — 53 percent in English and 61 percent in math — met or exceeded the new proficiency standards this year. In 2009, however, 77 percent of students met or exceeded standards in English and 86 percent of students did so in math, exhibiting a precipitous drop from 2009 to this year.

State education officials said the new standards were based on how the state's eighth grade Math and English tests related to the Regents, how performance on the Regents related to SAT scores, and how it related to first-year performance in college. 

 "The Regents and I believe these results can be a powerful tool for change," said State Education Chancellor Marryl Tisch. "They clearly identify where we need to do more and provide real accountability to bring about the focused attention needed to implement the necessary reforms to help all of our children catch up and succeed."

John King, senior deputy commissioner for P-12 Education, said that the new standards do not mean that those students who scored at the proficient standard are labeled "basic."

"Rather, the lower numbers of students meeting the proficient standard reflects that we are setting the bar higher and we expect students, teachers, and parents to reach even higher to achieve these new targets," King said.

Dr. William Johnson, superintendent of schools, said that those who scored in Level 3 in the district — but are at Level 2 now by the new standards — will be provided with instructional services, though the state is not requiring the district to do so for one year.

"We are still held accountable for the reading and math performance of these students," Johnson said, "and it would be foolish on our part to not provide them with some level of additional services now that they no longer meet state standards."

He added that he won't know how many students are impacted by the new standards for a few weeks, as the district is in the process of matching up those in Levels 1 and 2 with additional services. "We just want to make sure that our students have the skills set and knowledge that will enable them to succeed in college," he said.