Student Achievement
In Illinois,
October is the month when Achievement Scores for
schools across the State are released to the
public. The levels of student achievement have
continued to decrease despite increases in the
school resources applied to the learning process.
Some
perspective is needed in interpreting
the significance of these trends. Few educators
would argue that standardized tests are the best
measures of school effectiveness. Also, there are
many technical issues involved in the tests
themselves and how the scores are reported and
analyzed. 
However, the
reality is that the test results are concise and
appealing to the public..... hence important to
the school. They also are consequential for
individual students, who need good scores to
qualify for high school graduation, colleges, and
scholarships. So, new approaches to assessment
and better tests may be needed in the long run,
but in the short run it would be of benefit
simply to achieve higher scores. Two effective
means to this end currently are available. The
first focuses on the test scores directly, while
the second reaches beyond the tests to each
school’s curriculum and preparation of
students to lead productive and fulfilling lives.
There has been
some debate concerning the effectiveness of
test-coaching programs. On balance, the research
indicates gains across programs, with impressive
results from programs designed for specific
student groups and settings (Coffin, 1987).
Another effective
approach is to develop the study skills which
facilitate the learning process.....skills which
are not covered in most school curricula. The
deeper issue behind raising test scores is the
instructional effectiveness of the school.
Improvements here mean better-prepared
individuals, lifelong learning, and progress for
society. An important part of this improvement
process involves assessing the needs in various
aspects of the school and classroom operation,
then evaluating the progress which results from
improvement efforts.
Research for
Better Schools (RBS)
|
tantly reminded
that there is so much to do and so little
time to do it. Our commitment to
education reminds us that although the
task is huge, we must not waste our
time.....our children do not have the
time to waste. Our energies should be
directed at improving the education of
our youth. This does not mean that what
we have been doing is wrong or not
beneficial, merely that education, as all
we do, should be continually reviewed and
improved upon. And so, as the days seem
to dwindle and the hours shorten, we need
to work faster and smarter to accomplish
the one task we cannot waste our time on,
educating our children. Happy
Thanksgiving.
Thanks to your
survey participation about the student
accountability for the performance of
standards. The survey results show 
em before him. 
urricular areas: Language
Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies and
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