NY Releases Results of 3-8th Grade Math, ELA Tests

The New York State Education Department today released the results of the 2017 Grades 3-8 English language arts (ELA) and mathematics tests. And the results show that the number of kids who opted out of the tests dropped, while the percentage of students who scored at the proficient level rose. Improvement was significant in Yonkers, one of the state's largest cities.

In ELA this year, the percentage of students in grades 3-8 who scored at the proficient level (Levels 3 and 4) increased by 1.9 percentage points to 39.8, up from 37.9 in 2016.

In math, the percentage of students who scored at the proficient level increased this year to 40.2, up 1.1 percentage point from 39.1 in 2016.

The test refusal rate went down slightly. In 2017, the statewide test refusal rate was about 19 percent, a decline of two percentage points from last year’s refusal rate of roughly 21 percent. Those students were much more likely to be from average or high-wealth districts, said State Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia in a press conference Tuesday. "The students who generally are higher-performing students are the ones that are opting out." They're also less likely to be English Language Learners.

“I’m encouraged by the modest improvements we’re seeing in our test scores,” Board of Regents Chancellor Betty A. Rosa said in an announcement about the results. “As I’ve always said, testing is just one piece of the puzzle to understand how students are performing. And that’s why our draft ESSA plan takes a more holistic approach to accountability – an approach that looks at multiple measures of school and student success. This allows us to continually evolve and adapt so we can ensure that our systems are culturally responsive and place an emphasis on educating the whole child.”

However, the achievement gap between white and minority students continues to be troubling, Elia said.

Yonkers did particularly well compared to the state's four other big cities — Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse and NYC. Yonkers students saw a 3.6 percent jump in proficiency on the ELA: 29.6 percent of students performing at Level 3 or 4 compared to 26 percent in 2016. In math, 28.3 percent of students performed at the proficient level, compared to 24.6 percent last year.

The tests were not significantly changed so it's valid to compare the 2017 results with the 2016 results, state education officials said.

The state's new standards, part of its ESSA plan, will be submitted to the U.S. Education Department next month, Elia said in a press conference.

"It stresses the need to foster equity and fairness throughout the entire system," she said.

It expands accountability measures beyond English and math to include science and social studies and proficiency for English language learners. It will also include measures for school poverty and student success.

"We have taken a deliberate, inclusive and transparent approach," she said. "The standards are rigorous and will prepare children for lives in the 21st century."

Starting this school year, the state has switched to 2-day assessments on the current standards. Those standards will remain in use for the following school years: 2018-19 and 2019-20. During that time, Elia said, the state will concentrate on professional development for teachers so they are fully conversant with the new standards and have time to adjust instruction.

The new assessments will start in the spring of 2021.

A lack of time to adjust was one of the top complaints when the current standards, the unpopular Common Core curriculum deemed 'chaotic' by angry Hudson Valley parents and educators, were imposed in 2012. A visit to the area by then-Education Commissioner John King brought out hundreds of furious Westchester County parents and educators in 2013.

SEE ALSO:

• NY Announces Plan To Revamp Common Core Standards
• Fewer Dates, New Standards For State Tests

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