The CAPT testing results have come back early this year giving us a chance to evaluate whether our Superintendent of Schools, Dr. Marion Martinez, earned her 3.5% raise.
Here are the Grade 10 CAPT 2007/2008 results for comparison.
MATHEMATICS
Total Students Tested:
2007: 607
2008: 581 -26
Average Scale Score
2007: 220.2
2008: 225.5 +5.3
% At/Above Goal
2007: 19.6
2008: 21.3 +1.7
% At/Above Proficiency
2007: 52.7
2008: 57.7 +5
SCIENCE
Number Tested:
2007: 606
2008: 579 -27
Average Scale Score
2007: 230.3
2008: 231.7 +1.4
% At/Above Goal
2007: 17.5
2008: 21.2 +3.7
% At/Above Proficiency
2007: 63.5
2008: 65.1 +1.6
READING
Number Tested
2007: 610
2008: 582 -28
Average Scale Score
2007: 214.5
2008: 215.5 +1
% At/Above Goal
2007: 23.9
2008: 15.6 -8.3
% At/Above Proficiency
2007: 56.9
2008: 64.1 +7.2
WRITING
Number Tested
2007: 614
2008: 578 -36
Average Scale Score
2007: 229.3
2008: 238.1 +8.8
% At/Above Goal
2007: 31.4
2008: 33.2 +1.8
% At/Above Proficiency
2007: 68.4
2008: 81.8 +13.4
While on it’s face this data may look positive, and certainly any gain is a positive, it appears that the East Hartford schools have not been as successful in raising the student performance levels as the state as a whole has been. Consider these State Wide Results and compare them to those listed above. It appears East Hartford has not picked up the numbers it should have.
Also, we must compare more than a single year in order to maintain perspective so here are the results for the period of 2001 through 2006. Keep in mind that CAPT was upgraded for the 2007 year to CAPT V3 which was continued in 2008.
Explore the CAPT data yourself at http://www.ctreports.com.
Tags: CAPT, Dr. Marion Martinez, East Hartford, Schools
July 16, 2008 at 9:06 am
Do not forget that 2007 and 2008 are entirely different children. Each year is a different group so you are not watching for improvement in a group over time. You are saying, “Did this year’s students do better than last year’s?” Every group is different. This is last October of grade ten.
If you increased proficiency, did they come down from GOAL or up from BASIC?
If you increased at all did they come near the state average? or the DRG average? (District Reference Group composed of towns of like economic and social characteristic.)
Has the population in high school changed appreciably in demographics over the last 5 years?
There is more about educational results to do with the parent’s education and the support given students for study and goals/results while at home than any educator can do in his hour a day.
Schools lead and provide opportunity and students have to do the learning.
Last, consider looking at the released items on the pages at our CSDE.
http://www.csde.state.ct.us/public/cedar/assessment/capt/released_items.htm
These tests are tough. The subjects are at a high level for 14 and 15 year olds and some are interdisciplinary.
“Ya gotta wanna” succeed to do them. That commitment is form the person and is not grown solely in school. The will and the need to do well comes from expectations of the home and community more than from staff in schools. So even when the huge push is there in the town’s institution, the individual student needs direction and expectations for best effort from his family.
July 16, 2008 at 9:27 am
So now I go to the state web site a see that the state increased say 2 points and East Hartford increased maybe 7 then the state increased by 5.9 points and East Hartford by 13.4…
What is the complaint?
EH surpassed the state growth in every area for proficient- and every average scaled score.
If you do not like doubling+ the state growth increase – what are you expecting? any curriculum changes need many years to grow through a particular class. If you change K -grade 2 – you wo’t see it in grade ten for 11 years… Miracles may come, hard work and stay the course take time.
No, i do not or did not work in EH. I do not know anyone there.
Give some credit to growth. Harping on problems of not up to ___, whatever bar and no kudos for improvement will not see continued the herculean improvement efforts by individual staff members. I suspect they will move on to where they hard work and incremental growth with lowering demographics is appreciated.
The task is akin to pushing that boulder up the proverbial hill. When you have families out to work and the attitude, this is your problem, fix it; this is a lonely place ot be. Some appreciation and support is needed by the community to keep the momentum.
Th success seen in higher earning populations comes through expectations and exposure to those who talk and model study daily.
Say, “Good job” when it is earned. You will get more results with sugar than vinegar. How about some kudos to hard working students? some pride in EH students would go far as well.