1 in 4 RI students test proficient in science
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Science Test Scores
New test results show that only one in four Rhode Island students is proficient in science.Published: September 23, 2009
Updated: September 23, 2009
PROVIDENCE—New test results show that only one in four Rhode Island students is proficient in science.
Rhode Island Gov. Don Carcieri and state education officials on Wednesday released the latest results of the New England Common Assessment Program tests.
Related link: RI NECAP Science Results for Grades 4, 8, and 11 (.pdf)
The tests are given annually to students in grades four, eight and 11. They measure knowledge in physical science, earth and space science, life science and inquiry science.
Roughly 25 percent of students were proficient in May 2009, with elementary school students showing the best performance.
Carcieri called the results, though a slight improvement over last year’s marks, “unacceptable.“
He called for a roundtable discussion on ways to improve student performance.
Reader Reactions
Well put, Malcolmd3111. I couldn’t agree more.
The responsibility to provide an education for a child begins at home, and this begins long before the infant begins first grade. How many adults delegate the child rearing responsibilities to TV, and other external stimuli? Having shared experiences with our children at museums, walks in nature, discussions of books they have read go a long way to teaching them that part of life is about curiosity and comprehension. Do we accept that as adults for ourselves? Culturally, we don’t value intelligence and deep discourse, rather, we skim along on the surface lazily accepting superficial explanations of the topic of interest. The understanding of science requires in part a eagerness for truth. That requires effort and desire. Are we exemplars for our children?
kc12 I agree with you on all points. There needs to be merit based pay raises for teachers. Our schools are turning out an inferior “product”...education. That said, the blame isn’t solely on the teachers. Parents are not involved enough with ensuring their child’s education. Go to a child’s sporting events and you will see parents cheering like maniacs. Now go to parent-teacher conferences where, often, the attendance is abysmal. Parents, be your child’s cheerleader in education. Demand excellence! I know that it is not that simple, but we have settled for substandard schools, and that is what we have.
edsaul, you have a great point. The senior projects and portfolios are a waste of time. The kids who do their work diligently throughout high school, don’t need this busy work. The ones who struggle would benefit from this time being used for TEACHING. The ones who don’t apply themselves at all won’t on this either.
People involved in the education system in RI should be ashamed of themselves for these results. People need to be fired. This is why we need to base teachers pay on performance, there is absolutely no accountability or standard of excellence to meet for higher pay. Parents need to be more concerned with their child’s education, unless you are happy with children being dumber than stumps, get involved. You have to realize when it is your child that is not the 1 in 4.
We need to push hard for a voucher system in RI, so there is choice. If you child is attending a school where the levels of education are this low, you should have a right to move the child to a private school without additional or minimal cost to you. It is YOUR tax dollars, you have rights! This would cause competition with in the current failed education system and provide good teachers better opportunities without the unions strangle hold. I understand that there are many teachers who are sheeple who follow the unions blindly, but open and free competition with better schools could at least bring about better education to the children, and the unions would not be as strong in the state. Less union influence equals a better quality of education for our children.
why is it the teachers who are always the first to blame…we had a state government that did not have the guys to give the heave ho to the prior commissioner who did nothing but have “conversations” about problems and did little if anything to address the issues. His testing ad nauseum, senor projects, etc took away days of instruction every year from the students. And THAT is the rest of the story.
To improve student performance, simply improve the quality of their teachers.
Case closed!
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