Ohio's fourth- and eighth-graders are achieving better scores in reading and mathematics, according to a recent study.
The 2003 National Assessment of Educational Progress report, or the Nation's Report Card, shows that compared to other states, Ohio ranked 13th in fourth- and eighth-grade reading, and 11th in fourth-grade and 14th in eighth-grade mathematics.
The Nation's Report Card is the only nationwide evaluation of what students know and are learning. The report details to the public the progress of students in the United States.
This was the first report administration in which all 50 states were required to participate in the national assessment under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, which was designed to improve students' achievements.
Ohio Department of Education spokesman J.C. Benton said with the curriculum that Ohio educators are using, Ohio is going to the top of the pack.
Our goal is to be able to provide education to all 1.8 million kids in Ohio
Benton said.
The main goal is not to show any difference in the schools, whether they are in rural or suburban areas, Benton said.
Ohio schools have implemented various programs to help students have an equal chance to learn. OhioReads, a program that started in 1999, helps children up to the fourth grade, and has given $114 million to state schools to support classroom-reading instruction.
Athens East Elementary Principal Denny Boger said the school gets community volunteers and students from Ohio University aiding in the children's education. The children are tutored twice a week, some during school, some after school.
(It's) a curriculum based focus it's not just an assessment-based focus Boger said.
At Alexander Middle School, the teachers are using many different approaches to prepare their students.
To prepare them
we have purchased new books
books that correlate with the tests
fourth-grade teacher Linda Keffer said. We are working very hard trying to do the best for our students
the best that we can do.
The teachers also are providing more one-on-one tutoring and teaching the students how to better answer the question that would appear on the tests, Keffer said.
Students are given practice tests, but Keffer said test preparation is more on a day-to-day basis, not in a two or three week cram session.
Karrie Hanning, an eighth-grade teacher at Alexander Junior High School in Shade, said that although her students are preparing for a proficiency exam, it is not the same. There are certain skills that the students have to do at each grade level. Now, preparations are being made for the 10th grade proficiency exams. In previous years, teachers did extensive work preparing students for the exams, usually three to four weeks of exercises.
We're doing everything - everything that the state tells us to do
Hanning said.
17
Archives
