Truth matters. Community matters. Your support makes both possible. LAist is one of the few places where news remains independent and free from political and corporate influence. Stand up for truth and for LAist. Make your year-end tax-deductible gift now.
This archival content was originally written for and published on KPCC.org. Keep in mind that links and images may no longer work — and references may be outdated.
State English, math test scores inch up in STAR exams
California Superintendent of Public Instruction Jack O'Connell said 2 percent more second through 11th graders scored proficient or better on yearly math and English test scores.
(
Adolfo Guzman-Lopez/KPCC
)
Listen
0:52
State English, math test scores inch up in STAR exams
State English, math test scores inch up in STAR exams
Results out today from an annual batch of standardized tests indicate incremental improvement among public school students.
They’re known as the STAR tests and they measure second through eleventh graders’ knowledge of English, math, science, and history. The results fall into five categories: advanced, proficient, basic, below basic, far below basic.
State schools superintendent Jack O’Connell welcomed this year’s results.
"Despite the consistent, and quite frankly, devastating cuts in Sacramento to the education budget, I am most pleased with the resiliency of out public school system," O'Connell said.
This year, 52 percent of students scored the state’s goal of proficient or above on the English section. Math scores were nearly the same. Scores in both subjects improved two percentage points compared with last year.
There’s a push among state and regional educators to use tests like these to evaluate teacher performance. O’Connell said he agrees with using test results, in part, to measure good teaching.
The news conference took place in teacher Rebecca Caruso’s classroom at Cleveland Elementary School in Pasadena. She said behavior problems in one class brought STAR test scores down. Caruso said that measuring teacher effectiveness using standardized tests is not the answer to the biggest school issue of the moment.
Sponsored message
"That ineffective teachers are still in our classrooms. We’re evaluated on a couple observations in the school year and that’s how we’re evaluated, and I think it needs to be broader, just as the students, their evaluations should be based, not just on a one-time test," she said.
Educators agreed that it’s going to take a lot of work to boost students’ academic performance as schools grapple with cuts in state funding.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our connected community. We are free to tell the full truth, to hold power to account without fear or favor, and to follow facts wherever they lead. Our only loyalty is to our audiences and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen our community.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Right now, LAist has lost $1.7M in annual funding due to Congress clawing back money already approved. The support we receive before year-end will determine how fully our newsroom can continue informing, serving, and strengthening Southern California.
If this story helped you today, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Your tax-deductible donation keeps LAist independent and accessible to everyone.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
