City, county schools upbeat about TCAP results

The Tennessee Board of Education released district breakdowns of the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program test results this week and, overall results show Tennessee students improved in math and science, but only half were proficient in reading. Due to state wide policy changes, now TCAP results will figure into teacher evaluations and students' grades.

Wilson County Schools made some progress on the TCAP test and the End of Course test

"We are very proud of our teachers and our administrators who have worked diligently to help all of our students master the learning expectations at each grade level," said Nancy Ash, supervisor of Testing & Accountability for the county schools.
 
According to the recently released results of the 2012 TCAP tests, out of 136 districts taking the 2012 (grades 3-8) TCAP tests in Tennessee, Wilson County’s scores rank:
*9th in Reading/Language Arts with 62.4 percent of county students scoring Proficient or Advanced – 3.3 percentage points higher than last year
* 9th in Science with 77.9 percent of county students scoring Proficient or Advanced – 8.3 percentage points higher than last year
* 22nd in Math at 57.7 percent of students scoring Proficient or Advanced – 14.5 percentage points higher than last year
* 21st in Social Studies with 90.3 percent of county students scoring Proficient or Advanced – 0.8 percentage points higher than last year
 
The 2012 EOC tests in Wilson County also reflected gains wtih
* English 2 - 70.5 percent of county students scoring Proficient or Advanced – 0.8 percentage points higher than last year
* Algebra 1 - 63.2 percent of students scoring Proficient or Advanced – 7.6 percentage points higher than last year
*Biology 1 - 64.1 percent of county students scoring Proficient or Advanced – a slight decline (-1.2) from last year.

Ash noted several things that may have contributed to the improved scores including:
* School-wide and county-wide Benchmark assessments were administered regularly this past year. A Data Management System (Thinkgate) helped teachers manage and sort data identifying the most commonly missed standards and identifying students who need additional time and support to standard mastery
* Professional Learning Communities (PLC) in every school – time was provided for all teachers to analyze benchmark data and plan student interventions (student by student and skill by skill)
* County-wide math coaches and literacy specialists
* A math coach or educational assistant was placed in each school to provide extra time and support for students
* School-wide literacy plans and Reading Intervention Programs were instituted
* Required science labs
* More higher order (ACT) type questioning

LSSD students meet expectations

According to a release from administrators, students in the Lebanon Special School District in grades 3-8 "met achievement expectations" in this year's TCAP exams.
This was the case in all four TCAP testing areas: reading/language arts; math, science and social studies. Schools will receive information on every student tested. That information will include achievement scores and the growth for every child.

The LSSD increased the numbers of students proficient in reading and language arts by 0.4 percent, in math by 0.3 percent, and in science by 0.2 percent. The district performed above the state average in reading/language arts, science and social studies.

"Even though we met the current expectations, our goals are set higher each year and we will continue to work to increase achievement for all students," said LSSD Director Scott Benson. "We have pockets of high performance and other areas where we need improvement."

With state standards increasing each year, and teacher evaluations depending on student test scores, the states have never been higher with TCAP exams. Tennessee's Race to the Top program requires higher levels of learning for every student so they will be prepared for college and careers.

"LSSD district support staff and principals are working through the data now to use it to make improvements at the school level," said Dr. Jeanne Barker, Associate Director of Learning for the LSSD.

Staff writer Mary Hinds may be reached at 444-3952, ext. 45 or via email at maryhinds@lebanondemocrat.com