Mason County Board of Education members were informed Monday the new college ready and accountability scores released in September are better than initially reported at the high school level.
During Monday’s regular BoE meeting, Ron Ishmael, assessment coordinator reviewed the test scores released Sept. 26 for the second year of Kentucky’s Unbridled Learning College/Career Readiness for All Assessment and Accountability system.
In the initial report, Mason County High School scored a 56.0 overall, with a 58 percentile rank. The school was classified as “needs improvement” since it missed the 70 percentile ranking to be classified as “proficient.” Under the initial report, it was also noted the high school missed the annual measurable objective (AMO) goal assigned by the Kentucky Department of Education of 56.6, and hit the participation and graduation goals.
According to Ishmael’s report, he has met with KDE officials and the scores have been adjusted, with the high school now achieving a 57.7 overall score, with an estimated percentile ranking of 68. The adjustment also means the school exceeded the AMO goal.Â
With the adjusted scores, it also places the high school into the state assigned rewards and assistance category of “progressing” under the needs improvement classification.
The testing system is administered to students in grades 3 through 12 and tests in areas of reading, mathematics, science, social studies, writing, and language mechanics.
Since Senate Bill 1 passed in 2009, the state has focused on better preparing students for life after high school. In 2013, the college/career-readiness rate jumped to 54.1 percent – up from 34 percent in 2010.
Also discussed during the meeting was how teachers and administrators at MCHS can work to improve ACT scores to continue success in the KDE college readiness classification. Principal Steve Appelman and teacher Seth Faulkner outlined a plan to work with ACT experts on improving scores through intervention times as well as classroom instruction; identify students with special needs instruction to determine their level of achievement and area of needs; and to provide all students more authentic practice testing situations relative to the ACT.
“We want our ACT scores to be better, we want to be proficient all with a focus on college readiness for our high school students,” said Appelman.
In other business, board of education members:
— Learned how the district is preparing for the new Kentucky Department of Education teacher and administrator evaluation system under the Professional Growth and Effectiveness System which will be fully implemented by the 2015/2016 school year.
— Learned of the resignations of several staff positions at the bus garage and the resignation of music teacher Kristal Mers at the middle school. Superintendent Rick Ross said the positions will be filled internally, saving the district money.
