Possibilities endless with school testing data
Many can remember the days of sharpening those yellow No. 2 pencils, carefully filling in the circles and enduring hours of standardized school testing.
It’s now 2022, and school testing has come a long way. So has the data that it provides.
Andrea Kammer, Holyoke Elementary School principal, demonstrated the incredible ways local teachers can analyze testing data at the regular meeting of the school board Tuesday, Jan. 4.
With the NWEA website (originally Northwest Evaluation Association) displayed on a large screen, Kammer explained that she values this data even more than the statewide assessment because when K-10 students take these tests three times a year, it shows how they’ve grown over time.
Students test on subjects like math, reading, language usage and science, and their scores are compared with other students nationwide.
Since the tests are online, school staff members have data reports available almost instantly and can use that information to tailor their classrooms to the needs of the students. “Data drives a lot of our instruction,” said Kammer.
The data can be reviewed for each school, each grade level and for each student with a vast array of charts, graphs and more that break down the results of the tests.
“It’s nice for teachers to have a roadmap,” said Superintendent Kyle Stumpf. However, he said it’s a lot for the teachers to process and implement, so it’s been beneficial for the district to give them days to work through it.
School board member Dusty Sprague commented that it would be a good idea to pass along some of the testing data to parents of students.
“It would help parents engage in the specifics,” said board member Jessica Cumming, who acknowledged that the detail that NWEA provides would be a very powerful and useful tool for parents who’d like to help their children in areas they may be struggling in.
She also suggested that in addition to reports at parent/teacher conferences, it’d be great to find a way to share data with parents through the school’s online Infinite Campus portal.
Funded pupil count determined
Ben Rahe, director of budget and finance, reported that the final funded pupil count, which uses a five-year average, was 602.8.
The actual seat count for K-12 was down a little bit from last year at 576 students, which includes some part-time students. Total full-time equivalent was reported as 594.5.
Rahe said that the district is split almost evenly 50-50 with white and Hispanic students. “That’s really the trend we’ve been seeing for the last few years, so it’s not much different than what we’ve seen,” he said.
Other business
In other business at the Jan. 4 meeting, the board:
— Reviewed a rough draft of the 2022-23 calendar and discussed the dates for Christmas break. Stumpf noted that a survey of students, staff and parents showed most are still in favor of no school on Fridays.
— Approved Melanie Wheeler as a fourth grade teacher for the remainder of the 2021-22 school year.
— Approved the retirement of human resources/payroll director Joan Price, effective June 30.
— Received an update from Rahe regarding adjustments made to the initial budget from June.
— Acknowledged a gift of 80 sets of headphones for the elementary school from Seaboard Foods.
— Received an update about progress on the Building Excellent Schools Today construction project, which is about 95% done. The district is waiting on some lockers and window blinds, an interactive trophy display has been ordered, and the design for a donor wall is in the works.
— Reviewed policies from the Colorado Association of School Boards, including one on immunizations.
— Brainstormed ideas for a Feb. 16 board retreat, including the need for a bus mechanic, comparisons for salaries/cost of living, and the possibility of offering junior high physical education and athletic practices during the final period of the school day.