Grade 10 MATH WASL thought and more

In Math statewide at grade 10 there has been an increase in the % of below level 2 scores over the last three years (level 1 + no scores etc.)
UGH!!!

Year . passing % . level 4% . below lev 2

06 .... 51.0 ............ ..18.4 .........26.1%

07 .... 50.4 ............ .. 18.3 ....... 29.9%

08 .... 49.3 ............ .. 17.5 ....... 35.4%

How screwed up is this?
If you only look at passing percent over the last three years not much change.
Let us take a look at the clueless level of below level 2.

Pretty much what one would expect from Bureau of Indian Ed data on what happens when Direct Instruction is ignored.

So why was the Dana Center allowed to keep screwing with the standards after the legislature tried to get rid of DC?
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Here is Seattle:

HERE are Seattle Scores:

Year -passing%- lev 4% - below lev 2

06 .. 55.7 ... 23.3 .....23.8%

07 .. 50.2 ... 21.2 .... 34.9%

08 .. 50.3 ... 24.6 .... 36.7%

Seattle has a larger proportion of Level 4 than the State but unfortunately the same situation in below level 2 math scores.

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The profusion of tutoring centers on the East side of the lake is working well for those involved but for those below level 2 perhaps they can not afford it.

Bellevue results are stellar for level 4 improvement.

Year -passing%- lev 4% - below lev 2

06 .. 69.4 ... 31.3 .....13.2%

07 .. 70.3 ... 35.1 .... 15.7%

08 .. 73.1 ... 40.5 .... 16.5%

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Clover Park SD.

Year -passing%- lev 4% - below lev 2

06 .. 31.8 ... 8.5 .....43.2%

07 .. 29.7 ... 6.6 .... 49.0%

08 .. 27.1 ... 7.9 .... 47.4%
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All of the above are for grade 10

It is no better for grade 4 statewide in regard to below level 2

Year -passing%- lev 4% - below lev 2

06 .. 58.9 ... 28.2 .....19.5%

07 .. 58.1 ... 32.7 .... 22.0%

08 .. 53.4 ... 29.4 .... 24.3%

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In the 2005 - 2006 school year I taught at Fife High School, which is a 10th, 11th, 12th grade school. It has four 90 minute periods.

For that school year we made significant changes in the math program at the Algebra I level that were discontinued the following year.

Check the data for spring 2006 WASL.

Year -passing%- lev 4% - below lev 2

05 .. 47.9 ... 17.0 ..... 31.7%

06 .. 56.8 ... 26.6 .....17.3%

07 .. 44.7 ... 11.8 ..... 31.9%

08 .. 45.6 ... 11.5 .... 34.5%

To improve a system requires the intelligent application of relevant data. -- W. Edwards Deming (1900-1993)

Perhaps this statement explains why we have so little improvement.

If you look at the performance of the cohort groups in grade 7 over these 4 years you will see constant improvement. It seems that the high school scores for FHS should be much better in Spring 07 and Spring 08.

7th grade cohort scores for the above classes.

Year -passing%- lev 4% - below lev 2

02 .. 21.5 ..... 7.9 ..... 64.0%

03 .. 36.8 ... 17.1 ..... 40.7%

04 .. 45.9 ... 16.3 ..... 31.4%

05 .. 51.5 ... 25.0 .... 23.5%

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here are the most recent Fife 7th grade scores
(you will notice that the below level 2 scores are now growing)

Year . passing % . level 4% . below lev 2

06 .... 48.6 ............ ..21.4 .........23.8%

07 .... 51.5 ............ .. 22.4 ....... 25.3%

08 .... 45.8 ............ .. 20.7 ....... 29.9%

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Statewide 7th scores:

Year . passing % . level 4% . below lev 2

06 .... 48.5 ............ ..20.0 .........29.8%

07 .... 54.6 ............ .. 24.4 ....... 25.7%

08 .... 50.3 ............ .. 24.6 ....... 30.1%

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Summary point:

Despite extra emphasis and spending on Mathematics the percentage of below level 2 students is continuing to grow at all three grades 4th, 7th, and 10th.

Conclusion the State Board of Education and the Superintendent of Public Instruction have failed to give adequate guidance in Mathematics.

Local school boards and schools have followed OSPI recommendations and in so doing shifted to reform math harming a great number of students.