2006 Grade 3-8 English

1
2006 Grade 3-8 English
2
The Bottom Line

• This is the first year in which students took
  State tests in Grades 3,4,5,6,7, and 8.
• With the new individual student data system
  announced earlier this month schools will soon
  be able to track students throughout the grades
  and get a comparison of learning from year to
  year.
• Schools will also see the relative performance of
  students in any year across the grade levels.
• Statewide, we can see that the substantial
  decline in student performance in reading and
  writing begins after Grade 5.

3
The Bottom Line

• We can also see the average performance of all
  students in Grade 3-8 throughout a district.
  Example Despite progress in recent years, in
  Urban High Need Districts, about half are
  achieving all the standards. In Average Need
  Districts, about 70 percent are. In Low Need
  Districts, over 80 percent are.
• We can also continue to see how students in Grade
  4 and 8 are performing relative to previous
  years. There is very little change in the
  percentage meeting all the standards (Level 3 and
  4).

4
The Bottom Line

• New York is 2 and 3 among all the states since
  1998 in helping Hispanics and African-American
  children to improve in reading according to the
  National Assessment of Educational Progress and
  the Education Trust.
• But achievement declines in middle school.

5
2006 Grade 3-8 English For the first time, we
can see that the substantial decline in student
achievement begins after the 5th grade. This
shows the percentage of students meeting all the
standards. Schools, teachers, and parents can now
see how students performed at each grade.
Number Tested Grade 3 185,603 Grade 4
190,951 Grade 5 201,262 Grade 6 204,249 Grade
7 210,735 Grade 8 212,320
Percentage of Students Scoring at Levels 3 and 4
6
2006 Grade 3-8 English The percentage of
students with serious academic difficulties
(Level 1) does not change significantly at each
grade.
Percentage of Students Scoring at Level 1
7
Testing Changes

• New York States English standards have not
  changed.
• But this is the first year of testing in grades
  3, 4, 5, 6, 7, and 8.
• From 1999-2005, New York had tests given only in
  Grade 4 and 8. The standards are divided into
  Grade bands (Grade 2-4, for example). Therefore,
  the Grade 4 test in those years had some content
  that was somewhat simpler, more similar to lower
  grades. Some of that simpler content now appears
  on the Grade 3 test.
• Therefore, the 2006 Grade 4 test is not equated
  to previous years tests in difficulty.
• Statistical analysis indicates the 2006 Grade 4
  test is therefore slightly more difficult than
  the previous years test and the tests given in
  prior years.
• Similarly, for the Grade 8 test, some simpler
  content now appears on the Grade 7 test.

8
Grade 4 English Statewide a slightly smaller
percentage of students met all the standards
(Level 3 or 4) on this years test than on the
2005 test.
Percentage of Students Scoring at Levels 3 and 4
9
Grade 8 English The percentage of students
meeting all the standards on this years test was
very slightly higher than on the 2005 test.
The percentage of students scoring at Levels 3
and 4
10

• Results by
• Need/Resource Category

11
2006 Grade 3-8 English In each Need/Resource
Category, the variation across Grades 3 through 5
was small the decline from Grades 6 through 8
was larger. The pattern of increases or
decreases varied by N/RC category.
Percentage of Students Scoring at Levels 3 and 4
12
2006 Grade 3-8 English In every N/RC category,
fewer students scored at Level 1 in Grade 5 than
any other grade.
Percentage of Students Scoring at Level 1
13
2006 Grade 3-8 English For the first time we can
see the average performance of all students
across Grade 3-8. This shows the percentage of
students meeting all the standards (Level 3 and
4) in Grade 3-8. The variations among
need/resource categories are substantial.
Students in Low Need Districts were twice as
likely as those in the Big 4 to meet all the
standards.
Percentage of Students Scoring at Levels 3 and 4
14
2006 Grade 3-8 English More students in the Big 4
show serious academic problems overall in Grade
3-8 than in other kinds of districts.
Percentage of Students Scoring at Level 1
15
Grade 4 English The percentage of students
meeting all the standards in 2006 decreased in
each category compared with 2005. The decrease
was smallest in New York City and Low Need
Districts.
Percentage of Students Scoring at Levels 3 and 4
16
Grade 8 English In New York City, the percentage
of eighth-graders meeting all the standards
increased on the new test. Since 1999, however,
there has been little change overall. In the
other categories, there was little change this
year compared with the 2005 test.
The percentage of students scoring at Levels 3
and 4
17

• Results for the Big 5 Cities

18
2006 Grade 3-8 English For the first time we can
see the average performance of all students
across Grade 3-8. This shows substantial
differences in the percentage of students meeting
all the standards (Level 3 and 4) in Grade 3-8 in
the Big 5 Cities.
Percentage of Students Scoring at Levels 3 and 4
19
2006 Grade 3-8 English For the first time we can
see the average performance of all students
across Grade 3-8. This shows substantial
differences in the percentage of students with
serious academic difficulties (Level 1) in Grade
3-8 in the Big 5 Cities.
Percentage of Students Scoring at Level 1
20
2006 Grade 3-8 English Performance among the Big
5 varied significantly. This shows the percentage
of students reaching all the standards, with the
highest scores in the early grades. Achievement
in the middle grades was low.
Percentage of Students Scoring at Levels 3 and 4
21
2006 Grade 3-8 English The percentage of
students with serious academic difficulties
varied among the Big 5. New York City and Yonkers
had the fewest students at Level 1.
Percentage of Students at Level 1
22
Grade 4 English The percentage of students
meeting all the standards decreased especially in
Rochester, Syracuse, and Yonkers, compared with
the previous year. However, performance remained
higher than for earlier years in Rochester and
Yonkers.
Percentage of Students Scoring at Levels 3 and 4
23
Grade 8 English More eighth-graders in New York
City, Rochester, and Yonkers met the Standards
than on the 2005 assessment.
Percentage of Students Scoring at Levels 3 and 4
24
What Must We Do Now?
25
What Must We Do Now? The Regents are considering
new actions

• Review requirements for teacher preparation.
  Ensure new teachers especially in elementary
  and middle school know how to teach reading.
• Give current teachers adequate professional
  development on how to teach reading.
• Ensure scientifically based reading strategies
  are available and used in low performing schools.

26
What Must We Do Now?

• Provide more intensive classes for underserved
  students to ensure they learn how to read. All
  students should read 25 books a year and write
  1,000 words a month.
• These results show funding is a key issue.
  Remember Students in Low Need Districts are
  twice as likely as those in the Big 4 Cities to
  meet all the standards. The State must provide
  more funds to the neediest children.

27
The Bottom Line

• This is the first year in which students took
  State tests in Grades 3,4,5,6,7, and 8.
• With the new individual student data system
  announced earlier this month schools will soon
  be able to track students throughout the grades
  and get a comparison of learning from year to
  year.
• Schools will also see the relative performance of
  students in any year across the grade levels.
• Statewide, we can see that the substantial
  decline in student performance in reading and
  writing begins after Grade 5.

28
The Bottom Line

• We can also see the average performance of all
  students in Grade 3-8 throughout a district.
  Example Despite progress in recent years, in
  Urban High Need Districts overall, about half are
  achieving all the standards. In Average Need
  Districts, about 70 percent are. In Low Need
  Districts, over 80 percent are.
• We can also continue to see how students in Grade
  4 and 8 are performing relative to previous
  years. There is very little change in the
  percentage meeting all the standards (Level 3 and
  4).

29
The Bottom Line

• New York is 2 and 3 among all the states since
  1998 in helping Hispanics and African-American
  children to improve in reading according to the
  National Assessment of Educational Progress and
  the Education Trust.
• But achievement declines in middle school.

30
2006 Grade 3-8 English For the first time, we
can see that the substantial decline in student
achievement begins after the 5th grade. This
shows the percentage of students meeting all the
standards. Schools, teachers, and parents can now
see how students performed at each grade.
Number Tested Grade 3 185,603 Grade 4
190,951 Grade 5 201,262 Grade 6 204,249 Grade
7 210,735 Grade 8 212,320
Percentage of Students Scoring at Levels 3 and 4