Students, on average, scored equal to or above their peers in New Jersey.
Mt. Laurel Schools once again saw its students equal or best their peers in New Jersey when it came to meeting or exceeding expectations on last year’s Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers test.
Sharon Vitella, assistant superintendent for curriculum, instruction and assessment for the district, used the recent Mt. Laurel Schools Board of Education meeting to review the PARCC scores of students for the 2017–2018 school year.
Students in grades three through eight were once again tested last year in English language arts and mathematics exams as part of the state’s annual standardized test.
The students’ scores then fell on a five-point scale, with any scores of four or five classified as meeting or exceeding expectations.
According to Vitella, on average, a greater percentage of students in Mt. Laurel Schools had PARCC scores on their exams that met or exceeded expectations than compared to peer students in other school districts across the state.
“We really do feel, at least according to this assessment measure, we are making a positive impact for kids,” Vitella said.
The only schools and grade levels in Mt. Laurel Schools where the percentage of students who scored above a four or five on their ELA or mathematics was not above the state level are as follows:
· Fleetwood Elementary School: third grade ELA (38 percent versus the state’s 52 percent), third-grade math (49 percent versus the state’s 53 percent)
· Hillside Elementary School: fourth-grade ELA (55 percent versus the state’s 58 percent)
· Parkway Elementary School: fourth-grade ELA (55 percent versus the state’s 58 percent) and fourth-grade math (47 percent versus the state’s 49 percent)
· Harrington Middle School: seventh-grade ELA (61 percent versus the state’s 63 percent)
Vitella also reviewed scores when broken down to different demographic groups, such as different races, those who are considered economically disadvantaged or those with an individualized education plan.
For many of the different schools and grade levels, Vitella noted there was an achievement gap for African American students, Hispanic students and economically disadvantaged students.
“Unfortunately, it doesn’t just still exist in Mt. Laurel — it’s nationwide,” Vitella said. “I’m not saying that as excuse, because we know we need to do better with this.”
Vitella pointed toward a shift in teachers’ professional development toward social/emotional learning to combat the issue.
“Without that piece being in order, it has a significant, negative impact on learning,” Vitella said.
Also, although students took what are known as the New Jersey Student Learning Assessment-Science exams last year, Vitella said no scores were reported to school districts this year as the 2017–2018 school year exams were the first time those exams were administered and being considered a “field test” by the state.
Unlike her presentations at BOE meetings in past years, Vitella’s presentation did not include average scores for those students in other states who administered the PARCC exams, as according to Vitella, only New Mexico and Washington, D.C., used the test outside of New Jersey.
Members of the public looking to review the full testing report can do so on the district’s website at www.mtlaurelschools.org under the agenda for the board’s Oct. 16 meeting.
