Learning Loss Data from PWCS reflects posts here

[Anonymous]

There have been so many posts on here about middle schoolers who had all 4s last year struggling with math.

At least PWCS will admit that their kids are in trouble. FCPS seems determined to remain in denial.

https://www.insidenova.com/headlines/failing-grades-improve-but-prince-william-students-still-struggling-with-learning-loss/article_0032c2a8-475a-11ec-ae6d-e70f3660c5d3.html?utm_source=insidenova.com&utm_campaign=%2Fnewsletters%2Finsidenova-top-stories%2F%3F-dc%3D1637173808&utm_medium=email&utm_content=headline

In a presentation to the school board, Director of Research Jennifer Cassata presented data on grades and scores from Virginia Growth Assessment (VGA) exams, a new regiment of testing mandated by the Virginia Department of Education for grades 3-8.

In the first round of VGA testing, 68% of 3rd to 8th graders tested were rated as proficient in reading, while just 45% were found to be proficient in math. The second number was actually down from Standards of Learning scores in the spring, when 49% of students were proficient in math. Reading scores were flat. Over 95% of all eligible students took the new tests, which were initiated by the General Assembly in the 2021 special session. Cassata called them “mini-versions of SOLs” that should be seen as a baseline to grade progress on learning recovery over the course of the year, with the spring SOLs as the second benchmark.

“These assessments have clearly shown that there is considerable support necessary in mathematics, that has been the consistent theme from multiple data sets,” Superintendent LaTanya McDade. “We will target this student population to ensure that they are receiving the necessary supports as a component of the unfinished learning plan. … Our staff and students are working hard to regain ground lost during the pandemic, but it is also clear that there is a considerable amount of work to do. … Recovery will take considerable time.”

Students at all levels also struggled mightily in math classes. In middle schools, math classes saw the lowest percentage of A’s during the first quarter and the second-highest percentage of F’s, behind world language classes. In high school, math classes were proving even harder, with just under 15% of students failing their math course in the first quarter and only 29% of students scoring A’s.

This is the first year that the School Board is requesting a quarterly breakdown of grades, making direct comparison difficult. But Board Chair Babur Lateef said Tuesday night that it was clear more students were struggling not just on statewide standardized tests but also on their report cards, which he said could have a bigger impact on students’ future as more university admissions offices do away with SAT or ACT score requirements.

......

But in both middle and high schools, far more students are currently failing courses than were in 2019.

[Anonymous]

I completely want FCPS to see if we can hire the PWCS superintendent (who was just hired, admittedly) away. She kept SPED kids in school during the pandemic when FCPS didn't. She has a really solid plan for addressing unfinished learning. She's really trying to get all kids in as good a place as she can be academically.

Imagine if we had a superintendent (and school board!) who spent their time trying to figure out how to get kids up to speed.

[Anonymous]

You can see the spring SOL percentages for FCPS, OP. If you want to compare, since you think FCPS is hiding some bad news.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You can see the spring SOL percentages for FCPS, OP. If you want to compare, since you think FCPS is hiding some bad news.

You mean the ones they lowered the passing scores for so more kids would pass the already bare minimum standard?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can see the spring SOL percentages for FCPS, OP. If you want to compare, since you think FCPS is hiding some bad news.

You mean the ones they lowered the passing scores for so more kids would pass the already bare minimum standard?

Yes, the same ones in the PWC presentation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can see the spring SOL percentages for FCPS, OP. If you want to compare, since you think FCPS is hiding some bad news.

You mean the ones they lowered the passing scores for so more kids would pass the already bare minimum standard?

Over the past 5 years or so, they've been making the SOLs harder, FYI. In part because parents think they are too easy, and also to better capture what a Standard of Learning should be.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can see the spring SOL percentages for FCPS, OP. If you want to compare, since you think FCPS is hiding some bad news.

You mean the ones they lowered the passing scores for so more kids would pass the already bare minimum standard?

Over the past 5 years or so, they've been making the SOLs harder, FYI. In part because parents think they are too easy, and also to better capture what a Standard of Learning should be.

They made them harder until 2021.

And FWIW, the Nation's Report Card from NAEP says we have the easiest language arts test in the entire US. Kind of embarassing, no? Our standards are literally the lowest in 4th and 8th. Math's more in the middle. So much for "an educational program of high quality" as promised by the VA constitution.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can see the spring SOL percentages for FCPS, OP. If you want to compare, since you think FCPS is hiding some bad news.

You mean the ones they lowered the passing scores for so more kids would pass the already bare minimum standard?

To be fair they only lowered language arts. I don't think they made math easier.

And predictably the learning loss showed up most strongly in math.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can see the spring SOL percentages for FCPS, OP. If you want to compare, since you think FCPS is hiding some bad news.

You mean the ones they lowered the passing scores for so more kids would pass the already bare minimum standard?

Over the past 5 years or so, they've been making the SOLs harder, FYI. In part because parents think they are too easy, and also to better capture what a Standard of Learning should be.

They made them harder until 2021.

And FWIW, the Nation's Report Card from NAEP says we have the easiest language arts test in the entire US. Kind of embarassing, no? Our standards are literally the lowest in 4th and 8th. Math's more in the middle. So much for "an educational program of high quality" as promised by the VA constitution.

I think that report was describing something else. It was confusing, exactly what they were comparing, but I don't think your description is accurate.

[Anonymous]

Agree that PWCS superintendent seems a lot more on top of things.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You can see the spring SOL percentages for FCPS, OP. If you want to compare, since you think FCPS is hiding some bad news.

You mean the ones they lowered the passing scores for so more kids would pass the already bare minimum standard?

Over the past 5 years or so, they've been making the SOLs harder, FYI. In part because parents think they are too easy, and also to better capture what a Standard of Learning should be.

They made them harder until 2021.

And FWIW, the Nation's Report Card from NAEP says we have the easiest language arts test in the entire US. Kind of embarassing, no? Our standards are literally the lowest in 4th and 8th. Math's more in the middle. So much for "an educational program of high quality" as promised by the VA constitution.

I think that report was describing something else. It was confusing, exactly what they were comparing, but I don't think your description is accurate.

There's 2 things in the Nation's Report Card. One part is how many kids in a given state mean NAEP's proficiency (not pass their own state standards).

The other part is mapping the state standards to NAEP's proficiency. To be fair NAEP says that being the worst may not mean your state is the worst, but I still think it's a bad look. Per the NAEP state mapping website: "NAEP can be used as the common metric to compare the relative stringency of states’ proficiency standards."
https://nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard/studies/statemapping/