NE Dubois School Board meeting: Pros and cons of ISTEP testing discussed

Despite an ISTEP test “fraught with nervousness”, NE Dubois students performed well , Curriculum Director Kathy Klawitter told the school board last night.

But, scores fell statewide on this spring’s test partly due to technological glitches on the state testing website.

Klawitter said it’s hard to tell if each grade level was affected by the malfunctions because of varying factors. But, she said at the middle school where testing had to be suspended, students were especially anxious while testing. Klawitter elaborated on students’ performance in an 8-page report comparing scores for current grades back to 2005 test scores. Over the 9-year testing period, scores in English/Language Arts (ELA) have fallen some and scores for math have risen.

Klawitter says this variance could have different causes, but she explains grading on math is less subjective than scoring for ELA which includes a written “constructive response” element. Also, she says all teachers and testing administrators sign a testing integrity statement which prevents them from looking at the tests. Klawitter claims in this system there’s no way to vet an item from tests or review wrong answers with students.

The majority of students in each grade at the school passed the 2013 Spring tests. The percentage of students that didn’t pass fell under the state average, except for grades 4 and 8 for English/Language arts and grade 3 in Mathematics which was barely under the state’s average fail. NE Dubois students largely excelled in Math scores with all students passing the Algebra ISTEP in Middle School, compared with a 33% fail rate statewide.

“New testing assumes teachers can’t assess children’s progress”, Klawitter said. Yet, she says test scores line students into predictable chart patterns most teachers will recognize. Klawitter says these tests are “not helpful” to teachers, but “just a way to rate and rank students” and schools. And she warned the board that more testing might be on the way, with as many as four standardized test per year. Board President Mary Pankey echoed the apprehension for more testing, saying she saw it causing more anxiety in students.

Also last night, the school board approved adoption of capital projects and bus replacement funds for the 2014 budget. Additional appropriations were already approved by the County and State. In addition, the board received resignation of Mary Werner as cafeteria cook and approved hiring Sandy Braunecker as her replacement.

Superintendent Bill Hochgesang also informed the board that the school corporation started a partnership with the Dubois County Community Foundation. The corporation transferred their assets for the schools’ Scholarship Endowment Fund to the foundation where they will accrue interest, providing more money for future scholarships. Currently the NE Dubois School Corporation gives 6 scholarships per year.

NE Dubois students will get yet another historic opportunity when 96 middle school students visit Washington DC during their fall break next week. Students may capture first-hand glimpses into the government shutdown.

The school’s Spell Bowl team also advanced once again to the state competition to be held on November 16. The team ranked second overall in their class at the area contest to advance.