Kids + Idaho Test = Low Marks Students In North Idaho Scored Very Low On Optional State Test Of Math And Writing Proficiency

Parents need not fret that state writing and math standards are too easy, if recent test results are any indication.

Students in North Idaho and across the state scored very low on an optional test that measured whether students are “proficient” in math.

Fewer than 20 percent of eighth-graders statewide and in Coeur d’Alene achieved proficiency. Fewer than 12 percent did in Lakeland schools, and in Kellogg only 8 percent did.

Proficiency is defined as a score of three or above on a scale of zero to five. The test is based on statewide math standards.

This was the first year for the test. Next year, schools will be required to give it to their students.

Students did much better with their writing skills, but some educators say the standards still are difficult to achieve for many students.

“In 1992, we had 86 percent of our 11th-graders scoring at the three level or higher,” said Kellogg High School counselor Bob Grigg. “The next year they changed the way they’re graded. They made it tougher.”

The first year after that change, only 41 percent of Kellogg students were judged proficient. The scores have improved, however, and this year slightly fewer than 58 percent were proficient.

“The students have been writing well, but when you get tough on the standards then a lot of the students suffer,” he said. “It puts a lot of pressure on a kid.”

The best-scoring districts were Coeur d’Alene and Lakeland. St. Maries and Kootenai Joint District high school juniors also did well on the test.

This year also was the first time that the direct writing assessment, which tests a student’s ability to write an essay, was given to fourth-graders.

Statewide and in North Idaho, the scores were much lower among fourth-grade writers than eighth- or 11th-grade writers.

Post Falls elementary teacher Mary Emmett said she’s using the test to assess her own ability to teach the material.

“We’ve adopted a new language arts curriculum, and I think next year, when we’re all using that, it will really help the writing score,” Emmett predicted.

Only about 23 percent of Post Falls fourthgraders scored at the proficient level.

The direct writing assessment test has been used in Idaho since the early 1980s. This year, the biggest improvement was among eighth-graders statewide.

“In spite of its imperfections, it seems to be the best thing we’ve got going,” said Lynette Hill, a state consultant in language arts.

To test the almost 47,000 essays from across the state, the Idaho Department of Education brings in 85 teachers for three days. Each essay is graded twice, and every 10th paper is compared against an “anchor” essay to ensure consistent grading, Hill explained.

Very few papers have to be graded a third time to resolve differences in scores, she said.

State education officials believe the test helps drive instruction toward the agreed-upon characteristics of good writing.

State testing coordinator Sally Tiel said the improvement among eighth-graders show that the test is working.

As for the statewide math scores, “It shows we have a lot of work to do,” she said.

The following fields overflowed: CREDIT = Susan Drumheller Staff writer The Associated Press contributed to this report.