By Richard Williams, Reporter
The results are finally in. On the PSAE, Kaneland improved in math, held steady in science and went down in reading and English.
In reading, 58 percent of Kaneland students met or exceeded standards, a decrease of three percent compared to last year.
In writing, 54 percent of Kaneland students met or exceeded the standards, a decrease of six percent from last year, although the warning category decreased by two percent.
Science remained unchanged overall, with 57 percent of Kaneland students meeting or exceeding the standards. The number of students in the warning category decreased by six percent though, one of the brighter spots in the results.
Math showed the most improvement overall, with 54 percent of Kaneland students meeting or exceeding, a two percent increase compared to last year. The warning category decreased by six percent.
“It gives us some tangible data points that enable us to analyze specifically where we need to improve,” English teacher Ryan Malo said.
Kaneland did not make Adequate Yearly Progress as defined by No Child Left Behind, a federal law that requires schools to have a increasing percentage of students meeting or exceeding on state exams. Schools that do not make AYP receive increasingly punishing consequences.
Nationwide, 82 percent of high schools are considered “failing” under the law, so it is unlikely that Kaneland will be sanctioned. U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan called the law “broken and unrealistic.”
According to school administrator Erika Schlichter, No Child Left Behind does have both good and bad points.
“A good point is that it focuses us on achievement for all students,” she said. “A negative point is that it is very punitive for schools instead of focusing on improvement.”
In order to help students improve, Kaneland has been taking steps to make sure students get the attention they need. STEP has become mandatory, which also has aided in the transition back to an eight-period school day. There is a new program, the Response to Intervention, which provides assistance to students who need help most.
Different students have different views on the matter.
“The PSAE affects the money we get for the school,” said senior Patricia Lassandro. “I tried really hard, but I don’t know how I did yet. I went to the school for years, and since I did my best, it isn’t my fault if I didn’t do well.”
Duncan has said changes will be made to the “broken” No Child Left Behind law.
The changes are not yet set in stone, Schlichter said, and are still in the early planning stages. What will happen is unclear.
“[The] easy answer is that we don’t know yet,” she said. “We have just heard ideas, and we need clarification in the law.”
The PSAE, which is a state test, is undergoing changes of its own, as the writing section of the test will no longer be required by the state due to budget cuts. Currently, it appears that schools will still be allowed to take the writing test, but it will be neither provided nor funded by the state, and it will not count on the PSAE.
Kaneland plans on keeping the writing test, according to Schlichter, due to the importance of writing skills. How the writing section will be done has not yet been revealed. Malo is certain that this will not affect how students are taught.
“Just like before, we still don’t want to teach to the test,” he said. “We want our students to be able to communicate their ideas well, regardless of whether or not the state is testing it specifically.”
With the PSAE being rewritten, the curriculum will likely be affected, if it hasn’t been already. Schlichter provided some information about the changes in both the curriculum and the PSAE.
“The curriculum will reflect the common core standards,” she said. “In 2013 or 2014, the new tests will be issued. Currently the state says at least part of it will be online. We have not yet seen its final form.”