Sakonnet schools ponder results of state’s latest test method

Posted 12/6/18

TIVERTON/LITTLE COMPTON — Students in grades 3 through 8 got their first taste of Rhode Island’s new RICAS (Rhode Island Comprehensive Assessment System) tests last spring, and last week, they …

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Sakonnet schools ponder results of state’s latest test method

Posted

TIVERTON/LITTLE COMPTON — Students in grades 3 through 8 got their first taste of Rhode Island’s new RICAS (Rhode Island Comprehensive Assessment System) tests last spring, and last week, they and their teachers were handed the results.

The test is modeled after Massachusetts’ MCAS — “Through RICAS, we now have a true apples-to-apples comparison of how we perform compared to Massachusetts, the gold standard for education in America and beyond,” said Ken Wagner, commissioner of elementary and secondary education.

The results were sobering as statewide scores fell significantly short of Massachusetts (17 percentage points in English Language Arts and 20 points lower in mathematics), although Massachusetts staff and students have the decided advantage of many years of experience with the test.

Asked to react to their schools’ scores, the superintendents schools in Tiverton and Little Compton had this to say …

Tiverton — We’ll learn from this

Since the RICAS test is modeled to a degree on Massachusetts’ MCAS test, the experience is both familiar and refreshing, said Tiverton Superintendent of Schools Peter Sanchioni who had worked the decade previous to this year in Massachusetts schools.

He said it is too soon to draw conclusions one way or another about the performance of Tiverton students, but he is certain of one thing — that comparison with Massachusetts school test results is “unfair.”

Massachusetts teachers and students have had years to become accustomed to the test, he said, “and I can almost guarantee you that as students and staff gain experience” with RICAS, the results will improve here too.

He said he encountered some administrators and other staffers who were disappointed as the results were revealed — “I tell them, don’t let the numbers define you … What defines us is how we move forward.”

Because this is a first year test, “the results do not accurately portray the ability of our students and staff.”

The value of the test, Mr. Sanchioni said, comes when all involved dig into the results and discover where students did well and where they need to improve.

For instance, “how did we do in fractuions? Is this an area that needs work, and if it is instruction can be adapted to emphasize the skill, as has been done in Massachusetts.

Although the length of the exam varies by grade level, it can be an ordeal, the superintendent said — three days for both the math and English sections, a couple of hours per day.

Mr. Sanchioni was not here last spring so didn’t have the opportunity to hear student reaction, but “I’m sure they probably found it more challenging. But rigor is good. These are 21st century skills that they will need.”

Little Compton — Good work, considering

Dr. Laurie Dias-Mitchell, superintendent of schools in Little Compton said, “Regarding RICAS 2018, the news is in: Rhode Island has a lot of work to do, but Wilbur and McMahon School (WMS) is in a good position.  WMS is ranked at about the top quarter (aggregated data) of all public schools in the state in spite of the fact that RICAS is the third summative assessment in Rhode Island in just four years (NECAP 2013-14; PARCC 2014/15, 2015/16, 2016/17; RICAS 2018).

“This constant change is confusing for educators and students and is surely counter productive. Massachusetts has taught and tested to the same summative assessment for 20 years  (MCAS), and this consistency has paid off.

“WAt WMS, each grade level at WMS achieved above the state average in ELA and Math — and there are many other data points that we are proud of — the number of students involved in our: STEM initiatives (SeaPerch, First Tech Challenge, LC Makers, Code.org), annual theatrical production, sports programs (cross country, soccer, basketball, lacrosse, field hockey), music programs (band, chorus), school-community partnerships (CORE, Island Moving Company, Little Compton Makers, Sogkonate Garden Club, URI Master Gardener Program).   

“There are so many more data points, beyond state tests, that speak to what a school offers to students and the greater community.”

Test results (2017-18)

RI Comprehensive Assessment System (RICAS)

Statewide

English Language Arts (ELA)/Literacy

All Grades

63,663 students tested (98.5 percent)

Not meeting expectations: 19.76 percent

Partially meeting expectations: 46.53 percent

Meeting expectations: 30.24 percent

Exceeding expectations: 3.47 percent

Mathematics

All Grades

64,468 students tested (98.75 percent)

Not meeting expectations: 22.35 percent

Partially meeting expectations: 50.34 percent

Meeting expectations: 25.39 percent

Exceeding expectations: 2.01 percent

Little Compton

English Language Arts/Literacy

All grades

Students tested: 94.71 percent

Not meeting expectations: 6.83 percent

Partially meeting expectations: 40.37 percent

Meeting expectations: 44.72 percent

Exceeding expectations: 8.07 percent

Math

Students tested: 95.88 percent

Not meeting expectations: 3.68 percent

Partially meeting expectations: 50.31 percent

Meeting expectations: 41.1 percent

Exceeding expectations: 4.91 percent

Tiverton

English Language Arts/Literacy

All grades

Students tested: 98.8 percent

Not meeting expectations: 9.28 percent

Partially meeting expectations: 52.38 percent

Meeting expectations: 36.14 percent

Exceeding expectations: 2.2 percent

Fort Barton

Students tested: 100 percent

Not meeting expectations: 3.9 percent

Partially meeting expectations: 51.95 percent

Meeting expectations: 42.86 percent

Exceeding expectations: 1.3 percent

Pocasset

Students tested: 98.86 percent

Not meeting expectations: 2.3 percent

Partially meeting expectations: 52.87 percent

Meeting expectations: 43.68 percent

Exceeding expectations: 1.15 percent

Middle School

Students tested: 99.82 percent

Not meeting expectations: 11.69 percent

Partially meeting expectations: 54.5 percent

Meeting expectations: 31.83 percent

Exceeding expectations: 1.98 percent

Ranger

Students tested: 98.9 percent

Not meeting expectations: 3.33 percent

Partially meeting expectations: 38.89 percent

Meeting expectations: 52.22 percent

Exceeding expectations: 5.56 percent

Mathematics

All Grades

Students tested: 98.55 percent

Not meeting expectations: 9.54 percent

Partially meeting expectations: 55.87 percent

Meeting expectations: 33.01 percent

Exceeding expectations: 1.59 percent

Fort Barton

Students tested: 100 percent

Not meeting expectations: 7.79 percent

Partially meeting expectations: 44.16 percent

Meeting expectations: 41.56 percent

Exceeding expectations: 6.49 percent

Pocasset

Students tested: 100 percent

Not meeting expectations: 9.09 percent

Partially meeting expectations: 61.36 percent

Meeting expectations: 27.27 percent

Exceeding expectations: 2.27 percent

Middle School

Students tested: 99.4 percent

Not meeting expectations: 10.07 percent

Partially meeting expectations: 58.81 percent

Meeting expectations: 30.04 percent

Exceeding expectations: 0.72 percent

Ranger

Students tested: 97.8 percent

Not meeting expectations: 3.37 percent

Partially meeting expectations: 46.07 percent

Meeting expectations: 48.31 percent

Exceeding expectations: 2.25 percent

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