The State Department of Education released spring 2007 Idaho Standard Achievement Test results this week that show a statewide decline in scores for language skills.
Some blame a new test and higher passing scores for the overall decline.
"Language took a hit in every district in the state," said Margo Healy, the State Board of Education ISAT testing program manager.
Blaine County students posted better language skills scores than other Idaho school district students. The state reported 73 percent of Blaine County students are proficient or above in language use, compared to 67 percent across the state.
ISAT scores are designed to give parents and educators an academic update twice a year of student's progress in math, reading, language and science. The test was given to nearly 98 percent of all Idaho students grades two through 10. This represents more than 600,000 tests statewide.
"We're pleased that our test is solidly aligned to Idaho standards but concerned about the AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress)," said Milford Terrell, ISAT board president.
"I think it's mainly due to the change in the test," Healy said.
The state reported that the test is more rigorous because it's now aligned to Idaho standards.
"You can't underestimate that," Healy said. "And don't minimize the fact that Idaho teachers set the skill level for cut scores. This is Idaho teachers saying what they believe Idaho students should know. That's a valuable component."
The drop in scores could have future ramifications for school budgets. Test results are used to help calculate whether students make sufficient academic growth and, under the federal No Child Left Behind, schools must meet academic progress mandates. The list of schools that don't make sufficient progress is expected to be released in a few weeks. If problems aren't corrected, those schools could face penalties or sanctions that include paying for additional tutors to help struggling students.
It is difficult to compare percentages to last year's scores because the tests are different. The contracts for the tests were granted to a new company this year, Data Recognition Corp. In years past Northwest Evaluation Association designed the tests.
Passing scores for the language exam, which includes 42 multiple-choice questions, were also raised this spring after a group of 27 Idaho teachers were invited by the State Board to outline what they thought students should know at each grade level, Healy said.
The results are not final, and districts can appeal the scores of students who weren't continuously enrolled in the school for the entire school year.
Math and reading scores fared better than language scores. Statewide, 81 percent of students posted proficient or above reading scores and 76 percent met the same requirements for math. In Blaine County, 85 percent of students met the proficient or above requirements for reading and 80 percent met the math proficiency standards.
