ANNA CHANG-YEN - Daily Herald | Posted: Wednesday, July 26, 2006 11:00 pm
The class of 2006 is moving on from their high school days, but districts are hanging onto the lessons learned from preparing them for a new state test.
School officials say they're learning how to give the students the skills they need to pass the Utah Basic Skills Competency Test. This year many schools are using their trust lands money to help high-schoolers hit the mark. The class of 2006 was the first group of seniors who were required to pass the test, or else receive a diploma with a stamp saying they failed UBSCT.
In the Provo School District, some schools will use the money for small group tutors and trackers who help kids get to class and turn in assignments, said assistant superintendent Ray Morgan.
The district is still compiling the information but estimates that the pass rate is around 90 percent for the three sections of the test: math, reading and writing, Morgan said. But the test results hold no surprises, he said. "The kids that don't pass the UBSCT are the kids that you historically would expect to have problems. It's not providing any new revelation."
The test may, however, tell schools which students are struggling with which subjects -- in time to do something about it.
"I think it does help us to maybe notice the kids sooner because as sophomores, when they fail the test, it's a red flag to you, and then you try to work with them," Morgan said.
All three public school districts in Utah County offered UBSCT remediation last year.
In the Alpine School District, Board of Education members have been asking questions about graduation rates. Sam Jarman, the district's 10-12 and adult schools administrator, provided a chart at a recent meeting showing how many students missed out on a diploma because of UBSCT. Out of 3,286 seniors in the district, seven received certificates of completion because they either did not earn enough credits or attempt each sub-test test the required three times. Eighty-one students attempted the test enough times but still got diplomas with the stamp saying they did not pass.
"In this case, I think yes, it has helped us to focus on and really try and meet individual kids' needs," Jarman said. "We were doing that before, yes to a certain measure, but we're doing a better job now."
Schools are using trust lands money for remediation and coming up with new ideas for helping students learn, Jarman said. For example, new classes have been organized to help students catch up on reading. "They're trying to put together study opportunities for kids during the day because they've found things happen outside of the day sometimes aren't effective. There are several ideas out there that the schools are using."
In the Nebo School District, 170 of 1,543 graduates received the diploma saying they did not pass the test, and 30 received certificates of completion. In the fall, the district hopes to use computer software to help assess students' weaknesses and remediate them.
"Our primary focus is UBSCT remediation," said director of secondary education Scott Wilson.
Morgan said UBSCT is making sure diplomas aren't handed out to students without basic skills, and the test does put more of an emphasis on academics.
"It's not a surprise which kids are having the struggle. It's the kids that traditionally were having the struggle, and we've got to find new and better ways to fill in the gaps that exist," Morgan said.
This story appeared in The Daily Herald on page B10.