Teacher test results released
A recognized location for information on how well or poorly school students fare on Pennsylvania’s standardized tests, the state Department of Education Web site is now a place to find teachers’ scores. Albert Gallatin Area and Belle Vernon Area school districts are listed among the more than 200 school districts, vocational and charter schools and intermediate units to be included in this test, formally called the Professional Development Assistance Program (PDAP). Administered by the Educational Testing Service, the first wave of the five-year $7.5 million test was given last December on the subjects of reading and mathematics, based on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA).
A.G. teachers were more likely to fall short of than exceed the state norm with their reported results. Belle Vernon teachers had some mixed results but most often reached and sometimes exceeded the state norm within one point.
“For the most part, we were right in there in the middle,” said Belle Vernon Superintendent Dr. Charles Chandler Jr.
Chandler said he was encouraged by the school district’s scores, but he said he was also skeptical about what they mean, since this was a first attempt.
The reports on the individual school districts are lengthy, and some, including A.G.’s and Belle Vernon’s, make note of technical difficulties that education department spokesman Jeff McCloud said concerned the Internet forum in the first week of testing but did not invalidate the posted results. He said there is no retest that would affect the school district, although an individual teacher may have a chance to take the exam again at a neighboring school district.
Appendices with some analysis are posted for the districts whose reports did not make note of technical difficulties. An example of the missing information is in the elementary math category at A.G.
Chandler said he did not think his district’s posted results were affected by the technical difficulties.
Regarding A.G., it is notable that the district is listed among those showing what the report considers significantly positive or negative results when compared to the state norms at the elementary reading level. The list quotes the district’s mean score was 27.615 of a possible 37 points, 2.36 points below the state mean.
A.G. Substitute Superintendent Walter Vicinelly could not be reached for comment.
Mean scores were broken down by school district building and also by topics within the two subjects. They also were listed according to teacher certification and years of experience.
As far as what may become of this information, Chandler acknowledged the education department’s intention that the results help drive future plans for teachers’ continuing education.
“I suppose we can use the results to make some decisions for our professional development, and we will certainly examine it with that intent,” he said, adding that teacher training is made available through the school year and summer from a variety of sources.
Eventually, all school districts may expect to be included in the program, with the next wave of testing set for August.
“About 20 percent (of school districts) are taking this each year for five years,” said McCloud.
“School districts were chosen based on when they are supposed to submit their strategic plan that has a professional development plan in it. Our hope is they would adapt their professional development plan based on these results.”
Meanwhile, the PDAP also includes a breakdown of colleges and universities whose graduates showed “significant variables from the state norm.”
The report made note that California University of Pennsylvania graduates scored what was considered as significantly below the state mean in five of six categories: elementary and middle school mathematics and elementary, middle and secondary reading. Secondary school math is the remaining category in which Cal U was not listed as significantly above or below average.
Cal U graduates had the poorest showing in middle school reading with a mean score of 27.276 out of a possible 37 points, for 2.33 points below the state mean. At the upper end of below-average results for Cal U grads is elementary math, with a mean score of 31.028 out of a possible 40 points and 1.20 points below the state mean.
Cal U spokeswoman Michele Renee McCoy said “it’s too early to tell” how the university may use the results or even what they mean about the university.
“It’s the first time that they (education department) administered the test, and we don’t know how many Cal U alumni took it or when they graduated. Maybe a teacher who graduated 30 years ago is taking the test now,” McCoy said.
The next tests will be given in August.
Seven school districts and three vocational schools from the area are in line for the upcoming test: California Area, Central Greene, Jefferson-Morgan, Laurel Highlands, Southeastern Greene, Southmoreland and Uniontown Area school districts, as well as Fayette County Area Vocational-Technical School, Greene County Area Vocational-Technical School and Mon Valley Career & Technical Center.
Carmichaels Area, Connellsville Area and Frazier school districts are on the schedule for fall 2003, and Bethlehem-Center and Brownsville Area are set for fall 2005.
McCloud said teachers have an opportunity to study for the PDAP by answering sample questions on a link to the Internet information.
“There are a few (practice questions) for each test where teachers can get an idea of the types of questions and the format. The tests are based on the academic standards for reading and math, so teachers could familiarize themselves with the standards,” he said.
All teachers took a reading test. Elementary teachers and math and science teachers also took the math test.
The PDAP information may be found at the education department Web site: www.pde.state.pa.us.