MHS assessment scores on the rise
Importance of state assessments grows
By Michael Yates
MHS student reporter
Students of Marion High School have longed complained about tedious state-issued tests known simply as the "state assessments." Since these tests do not count for a grade, students usually do not try their best. But recent concerns about the "Leave No Child Behind" program have encouraged students to give their best effort.
"The stakes are higher since the 'Leave No Child Behind' program," said Phoebe Janzen, MHS counselor. Tests scores that do not show the accepted level of improvement in students may, over time, result in something as minor as the reconstruction of the yearly curriculum, to the more serious actions such as the re-positioning or disposal of staff and faculty, or even annexation to another local school. If actions were to occur, students at Marion even could be bused to Hillsboro.
Scores for students are not centered on ability as much as progression and improvement. AYP, or adequate yearly progress, is used to measure the success of a curriculum in any given school or learning center. Each student must individually improve their AYP by five percent if the school is to qualify for the minimum requirements of the "Leave No Child Behind" program. Schools not qualifying for a succession of multiple years may have to deal with the serious consequences mentioned above.
"We might be doing great with 90 percent of the students, but if one student doesn't make adequate yearly progress, we don't qualify," Janzen said.
"It's very serious for the school, as well as for students. If we can't show all students are at the basic skill level, then there will be serious ramifications," Janzen said. "More and more pressure is being put on schools," she added.
Currently there are no such concerns, as tests scores are on the rise. When asked why scores are higher, school counselor Phoebe Janzen said, "Students are taking the testing very seriously. We have students who are very capable." Janzen went on to add, "Over the past couple of years we've done a better job."
Results show MHS students are behind the reading and math levels of Hillsboro High School. In the past, MHS students fell below the state average in such areas, while Hillsboro maintained a "level of excellence" rating by the state for their high scores.
"Tests are very, very important," Janzen said. "There's more reasons now than 'just because'."
Kansas State Department of Education's website, www.KSDE.org, posts the ratings for all schools in the state of Kansas, though due to the amount of information that must be reported to obtain an accurate rating of such schools, the information found on the site can be sometimes two years behind in accuracy. However, the site still gives the viewer a good idea of the school's recent past record with students.
