Mixed bag for local MCAS testing results
Published on December 22nd, 2004
STONEHAM, MA - It was a mixed bag of MCAS results reported to the School Committee last week. The Middle School hosted the committee for its Thursday meeting and the agenda appropriately included a summary of Middle School and High School MCAS test results from the exams taken last spring.
While Stoneham continues to perform well on the state's standardized test, and largely outperform state averages, the School Committee suggested that its recent slip in ranking compared to the nine other Middlesex League school systems is largely due to the town not giving the school department what it says it needs.
"That's not to say the teachers haven't done a terrific job. They have," said School Superintendent Dr. Joseph Casey. Rather, he suggested, the drop in ranking is due in large part to the effects of budget cuts, specifically, eradication of reading specialists at the elementary level, elimination of academic support classes, escalation of class sizes, and delaying textbook adoptions.
"I'm very confident that Stoneham will continue to do very well and certainly beat the state's expectations, but will we continue to keep pace with very, very strong school districts? I'm concerned...We're losing staff, were losing additional funding to allow that happen," Connelly added.
"We're not giving our students what we should be giving them," professed School Committee Chairman Cheryl Walsh. "Yes, it's sign of the times but I do think that the people of Stoneham have to step up to the plate and we still haven't stepped up to the plate..."We're not going to start with scare tactics and all that other stuff. The reality is where we are right now."
While Stoneham and Reading regularly ranked fourth and fifth interchangeably throughout the past few years, typically falling behind Winchester, Lexington, and Belmont, in 2003 Stoneham fell to sixth place and in 2004 dropped to ninth place, bettering only tenth place finisher Watertown.
"We're heading into another difficult budget cycle. The town needs to know this may continue if we don't get the support from the people in town," Walsh continued.
But the news wasn't all bad, according to the presentation of results by Assistant School Superintendent Joseph Casey and program supervisors for secondary Math, English and Science, who illustrated for the School Committee the type of detailed analysis performed in Stoneham once test results are in and the resultant action plans developed in order to continually improve student performance.
Passing the MCAS is now a state requirement for graduation.
Because of Stoneham's analysis and targeting of problematic subject matter and as well as at-risk students who need additional time and support to perform well on MCAS, Casey proudly pointed out that no student was unable to graduate this past June due to failing the MCAS test.
And Stoneham students continue to do well as the district takes seriously the No Child Left Behind federal initiative, making it a priority to move students from the Warning/Failing and Needs Improvement categories to Proficient and above.
Casey reiterated the Stoneham School department's goal for education as stated by Jean Piaget, "...creating men and women who are capable of new things, not simply repeating what other generations have done, men and women who are critical and can verify, not just accept everything they are offered."
"What we're asking for," Casey said, "is your continued help and support to allow them to achieve this goal."
Students and parents who want to know more about the MCAS test are urged to speak with teachers, principals, and guidance counselors, or to visit www.doe.mass.edu/mcas.
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