News From Terre Haute, Indiana

Local & Bistate

Discussion

Welcome to our online comments feature. We welcome your thoughts and your opinions, including unpopular ones. We ask only that you keep the conversation civil and clean. We reserve the right to remove comments that are obscene, racist or abusive and statements that are false or unverifiable as well as posts that are attacking other users. Repeat offenders will be blocked. You may flag objectionable comments for review by a moderator.
comments powered by Disqus
May 16, 2012

State says 84 percent of third-graders passed new reading test

Maureen Hayden CNHI Statehouse Bureau

INDIANAPOLIS — Sixteen percent of Indiana third graders failed to pass a high-stakes reading proficiency test that could determine whether they can move on to the fourth grade.

Indiana Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Bennett announced the final results of the IREAD-3 test at a press conference Tuesday.

Bennett noted that 33 percent of Indiana’s public, private and charter schools hit the state’s goal of a 90 percent pass rate, while 21 schools had 100 percent of their third-graders pass the state’s first reading proficiency test.

The Indiana Reading Evaluation and Determination assessment, known as  IREAD-3, was administered in March. It’s part of Indiana’s sweeping education reform efforts and is aimed at identifying students that need intensive help before they can move on to fourth grade.

“I am proud that so many students demonstrated proficiency in reading this first year of I-READ-3,” Bennett said in a statement released with the final test results, “but I’m more hopeful about what these tests will do to help those students who did not pass.”

Students who failed the test will be offered remediation by their local schools and given the opportunity to take the test again over the summer. Students who fail IREAD-3 a second time likely won’t be able to move on to the fourth grade.

For many schools, the test results released by Bennett Tuesday are rosier than the preliminary results they received in early April. That’s because the final results exclude students who are exempted from some the IREAD-3 requirements. That includes students with significant learning disabilities, and some students, who because English is their second language, aren’t proficient in English.

Some of the state’s largest and poorest school districts had some of the highest fail rates. The school districts in East Chicago, Indianapolis, and Gary, for example had saw less than 67 percent of their students pass the test. But Bennett also noted that nine schools considered “high poverty” schools because of their large number of students eligible for the free and reduced lunch program had 90 percent or more of their students pass the test.

The test has proven controversial in some school districts where officials fear it will mean that many third-graders will be unable to move on  to the fourth grade. That’s because students who fail the test twice would be required to take IREAD-3 again the following school year and also be required to take the third-grade version of ISTEP-Plus, Indiana’s other standardized test.

School officials fear it will be difficult to find a way to move a child on the fourth grade in every subject but reading; they say their default option will be to make those failing students repeat the third grade.

Bennett has defended the test, citing third-grade proficiency as a critical indicator of later academic success. “Our goal is to make sure all students in Indiana gain the reading skills they need to be successful in school and life,” Bennett said in a statement released with the results. “We know students who do not have the skills by the end of grade 3 rarely catch up to their peers. The I-READ3 assessment helps educators and parents ensure all children receive the support they need before moving forward with more challenging reading instruction.”

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Local & Bistate
Latest News
Community Calendar
Loading…
Events by eviesays.com
TribStar.com Poll
AP Video
Raw: Trucker Bumps I-5 Bridge Before Collapse Suspect in Killing of Officer Found Dead in Cell Raw: Texas Deputy Shot by Colo. Suspect Honored Major Detours Following Wash. Bridge Collapse Officials: Tsarnaev Friend Linked to Slaying Raw: Jersey Shore Reopens for Summer American Held in Grisly Czech Murders Obama:Sexual Assault Threatens Trust in Military Raw Video: Washington State Bridge Collapse UK-bound Pakistan Plane Diverted, 2 Men Arrested Raw: Memorial Day Flags Placed at Arlington Raw: Tornado on the Ground in Oklahoma High Wire Spectacle Thrills Crowd in Austria Bridge Collapse Survivor: 'Rough Day' Today in History May 24 Britain Braces for Possible Copycat Attacks First Person: Mom Discusses Famous Tornado Photo ShowBiz Minute: Shelton, King, Lopez Boy Scouts Approve Plan to Accept Gay Boys Raw: Scuffles in London After Hacking Death
NDN Video
Young protestor goes viral on Youtube High Wire Spectacle Thrills Crowd in Austria Toronto Mayor says he's not a crack head Maine island offers lighthouse getaway Suspect in Killing of Officer Found Dead in Cell Should We Prepare for Quakes? Lynn Kindergarten Class Rescues Ducklings Congressional gold medal awarded to civil rights heroes Charles Ramsey visits Kentucky Unique Display Greets Guests At Revel Casino Cape Cod Train Service Worries Residents BASE jumper rides snowmobile off cliff to honor dead friend Bridge Collapse Survivor: 'Rough Day' SHOCKING: School Guard Throws Girl Down Stairs Star Wars X-Wing Star Fighter Made of Legos Actress Amanda Bynes Arrested in New York Singer Psy Has An Imposter President Obama Heckled at National Security Speech Morgan Freeman falls asleep on air More lewd photos may soon come out: Weiner
Parade
Magazine
Click HERE to read all your Parade favorites including Hollywood Wire, Celebrity interviews and photo galleries, Food recipes and cooking tips, Games and lots more.
  • -

     

    March 12, 2010

activity
Real Estate News