TERRE HAUTE —
ISTEP-plus scores for 2012 show overall continued improvement by Vigo County students, according to district officials.
For the 2012 test, 71.6 percent of Vigo County School Corp. students passed both the language arts and math portions of ISTEP, compared to about 70.5 percent last year.
Statewide, 71 percent of students passed both sections of ISTEP, compared to 70 percent last year.
According to VCSC officials, there are 16 grade/content areas (English/language arts, math, science and social studies) tested with the current version of ISTEP-plus. Students tested in VCSC equaled or exceeded the state average in 11 of those areas.
“This is a record for the VCSC as the previous mark of 10 was set in 2011,” said Karen Goeller, VCSC deputy superintendent.
In other results, 86.1 percent of Vigo County third-graders passed English/language arts, compared to 85 percent of third-graders statewide.
“That is a record for us in terms of early literacy,” Goeller said. “We were especially excited about that given all of the early intervention efforts taking place in the school corporation.”
She also noted:
n in English/language arts, the school district was at or above the state average at all three grades in elementary.
n the VCSC exceeded the state average in science at both grades 4 and 6.
n for the Pass-plus category, the students in the VCSC met or exceeded the state average in eight areas.
Seventh-grade ISTEP scores are an area of concern, particularly math. Overall, 72.2 percent of VCSC seventh-graders passed math, up from 71.8 percent last year. A few schools saw significant declines.
The district is looking closely at results “to see where we need to make improvements,” Goeller said.
A middle school math liaison will look at results and provide additional support to teachers and students, particularly at targeted schools, said John Newport, curriculum coordinator of assessment.
Grade 7 English/language arts scores were 70.4 percent for 2012, down from 76.3 percent the year before. Next school year, middle schools will provide a special period during the day for students who did not master the English and math standards, Goeller said.
“We recognize the need to find time during the school day to provide additional remediation so that identified students have the extra instruction and support they need,” she said.
The continued ISTEP-plus gains are significant given Vigo County demographics, Goeller said. The state free/reduced lunch rate is 45 percent while Vigo County’s is 52 percent.
The state special education rate is 14.7 percent, while Vigo County is 22.6 percent. And, the state intradistrict mobility rate (children changing schools) is 2.1 percent while Vigo County’s mobility rate is 6.2 percent.
“Our teachers work in a very focused way to address the mobility issue in Vigo County,” Goeller said. Teachers have created pacing guides and a consistent syllabus in many subjects across the district so that when students move, they can learn the same content and state standards as in other buildings.
“Our teachers should be recognized for making all of these state reading and math standards come alive in the classrooms with their innovative teaching methods,” she said.
Among VCSC black test-takers, 53.3 percent passed both math and English, the highest percentage among the 10 largest urban districts in Indiana, Goeller said. Among Vigo County students on free or reduced lunches, 60.6 percent passed both portions of the test, the second best among the same 10 urban districts.
According to other data, 44.3 percent of Vigo County special education students passed both portions of the test, while 78 percent of general education students passed both portions of the test.
Starting this fall, student improvement on ISTEP tests will be a factor in teacher evaluations for those who teach ISTEP subjects, Goeller said.
She also noted that ISTEP-plus will continue for just two more years. In 2014-15, there will be a new, online test based on the Common Core Standards.
Sue Loughlin can be reached at (812) 231-4235 or sue.loughlin@tribstar.com.
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Students continue ISTEP progress
Vigo equals or exceeds state average in 11 areas
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