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053003 Bedford Central test scores steady
BY FRANK NARDOZZI
The results on the New York State Report Card for the seven schools in the Bedford Central School District were announced at the school board meeting last week.
Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Diane Ramos-Kelly noted that the results showed "consistent performance results" with previous years, with Bedford schools scoring above the state average, but still showing some disparity between minority students and their more affluent classmates in the school district.
"We still face the question of how to pull up those students who are struggling," said school board member Mel Comberiati. "The data on that has not changed much in five years."
"We try not to compare one community with another," Dr. RamosKelly said. "I am fairly satisfied with the results."
Superintendent of Schools Bruce Dennis stated that the state was "forcing the issue" by disaggregating the data by school, race and gender. Dr. Dennis noted that if there is any disparity, it tends to widen as the students move through the grades.
However, he said that he felt that the gap was narrowing in the Bedford Central School District. This was accomplished in spite of the fact that, as School Board President Dot Fallon noted, the district's Equity Task Force had focused its efforts more on Fox Lane middle school and high school, and not on the district's elementary schools.
"We're all frustrated that we don't see greater progress in the percentage of students in every grade achieving on levels three and four," the highest levels of the state's standardized fourth- and eighth-grade tests, said the school hoard's vice president, Elin Sullivan.
"But we're encouraged by the presence of our new administrators and principals and our new and advanced way of collecting the data and analyzing it," Ms. Sullivan said.
Dr. Ramos-Kelly sought to assure the board that the district tried to use the state standards as the foundation of its educational efforts and not the ceiling, and that all of the data was carefully analyzed to see where greater concentration was needed.
`Anything lost?'
School board member Mark Slivka asked if anything was lost in the school district's reliance on "high stakes tests" to determine its success or failure with students.
Dr. Ramos-Kelly responded that the district did not believe in teaching to the tests. "We believe in good teaching and learning and thinking," she said.
"I would never subscribe to teaching to the tests. We look at the data in the test results, but we don't teach to the tests."
"So the impact of these standardized tests is all positive?" asked Mr. Slivka.
"I think it is positive," Dr. RamosKelly responded. "The tests provide a system of accountability for measuring students' progress over time. I don't see the tests as a negative force in the school districts."
The assistant superintendent noted the State Education Department's recommendations for improving school district scores. They included:
o hold fast to high expectations;
o recruit and train effective leaders;
o use data effectively;
o recruit excellent faculty;
o provide staff development;
o improve instruction; and
o offer a rigorous curriculum for all students, providing an enriched, not slowed-down and repetitive program, for failing students.
The last point was of particular interest considering the current controversy over the high school's alternative program, the Academic Community for Educational Success, or ACES, which employs enrichment techniques that have come under fire recently.
Test scores
According to the test, Bedford Village Elementary School fourth graders scored the highest on the English Language Arts test, with West Patent Elementary School students scoring the lowest of the district's five elementary schools.
Students' scores on the fourth grade English Language Arts test are grouped into four categories: Level 1, far below standards; Level 2, below standards; Level 3, meets standards; and Level 4, exceeds standards.
The scores for the five elementary schools in the Bedford Central School District are as follows:
Bedford Hills Elementary: 0 percent, Level 1; 19 percent, Level 2; 45 percent, Level 3; and 36 percent, Level 4.
Bedford Village Elementary: 0 percent, Level 1; 2 percent, Level 2; 28 percent, Level 3; and 70 percent, Level 4.
Mount Kisco Elementary: 5 percent, Level 1; 15 percent, Level 2; 42 percent, Level 3; and 38 percent, Level 4.
Pound Ridge Elementary: 0 percent, Level 1; 3 percent, Level 2; 61 percent, Level 3; and 36 percent, Level 4.
West Patent Elementary: 3 percent, Level 1; 18 percent, Level 2; 54 percent, Level 3; and 25 percent, Level 4.
The scores on the eighth-grade English Language Arts test for Fox Lane Middle School were: 1 percent, Level 1; 27 percent, Level 2; 49 percent, Level 3; and 23 percent, Level 4.
"We still
face the question of how to pull up thosestudents who are struggling. The data on that has
not changed much in five years."
SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER MEL COMBERIATI