Sep 22, 2006 By Joyce Koballa 3 min read

PERRYOPOLIS – The Frazier School District is administrating a state sponsored assessment to its students to better determine their proficiency in reading and math. With the 4Sight program, the district will have more insight into the strengths and weaknesses of students in both subjects, so they can be addressed in a timely and efficient manner.

“We have the data, it’s very specific and if someone needs help in a particular area, we can provide it,” said Kathleen Janci, middle school principal.

The program is available to school districts online through the state Department of Education.

Janci said students in third to 11th grades are tested at the beginning of the school year to get a baseline in reading and math with the district then testing intermittently in order to monitor their growth.

“You can see where your students stand and continue to provide the needed instruction,” said Janci.

So far, Janci said the test was completed at the sixth-grade level while the seventh-grade classes will undergo the reading portion today.

The test will be administered in both subjects to eighth-grade students next week.

“It’s a really good tool to use and measure,” said Donald Martin, high school principal.

In a separate report, Dr. Dennis Spinella, superintendent, noted that all schools within the district met the state’s Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) for 2006, including its subgroups that include economically-disadvantaged students, students with disabilities or limited English proficiency or from major racial or ethnic groups.

“This can’t be said by any other school district in Fayette County,” said Spinella.

Under the No Child Left Behind federal law, school districts are required to meet AYP in state reading and math goals, holding schools accountable to bring all students to a proficient level in both subjects by 2014.

According to Spinella, Frazier met the state benchmarks of having students score 45 percent or higher in math and 54 percent or higher in reading in the 2005-06 school year.

Spinella added the benchmarks will increase in 2008 to required scores of 50 percent or higher in math and 60 percent or above in reading.

“Even if it was 2008, our scores (now) are still high enough to meet AYP,” he said.

In an unrelated matter, Ken Meadows, elementary principal, said an Internet safety program will be held in October for parents, addressing issues such as cyber bullying and online predators.

Meadows said the 90-minute presentation will be conducted by computer club sponsor and instructor Jim Natale.

“It’s an unbelievable eye opener for parents, especially if their children spend time on the computer,” said Meadows.