State Releases MSP & AYP Scores

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By Holly Zuluaga

Summary

The state just released the scores of the MSP, that's the new test that replaced the WASL. The results are a mixed bag. Action News crunched local numbers.

Story Published: Sep 1, 2010 at 7:44 AM PST

TRI-CITIES--The state just released the scores of the MSP, that's the new test that replaced the WASL.

The results are a mixed bag.

The scores are in and the results are all over the place.

"The scores have been constant and the states have been constant, this time there are more jumps, more ups and downs," Bev Henderson, Assessment and Staff Development Coordinator for the Kennewick School District said.

Bev Henderson with the Kennewick School District, is sifting through dozens of scores, trying to figure out just what happened.

"We'll be taking a hard look at the data and see where is it that our kids are strong and what areas do we need to fill in the gap," Bev Henderson said.

The MSP replaced the WASL last year and in some areas the Kennewick School District scores went up, but in others they took a dive. Sixth grade reading was one area that raised an eyebrow. Last year 73% of kids were passing, this year it hit 58%.

"There are things to look at, some oddities that really make you wonder what happened here," Bev Henderson said.

The Kennewick School District says that those scores don't add up. Kennewick says they pay more attention to a test they've been using for years called MAP testing.

They get the results back faster and can identify areas that kids need work.

The district says the scores don't exactly match up to these new results.

Roxanna Belletir's son goes to Park Middle School.

He was in 6th grade last year.

She says her son liked the MSP better.

"He was saying it was easier for him in some areas, and in some areas that were harder, he actually improved," Roxanna Belletir said.

It's a mixed bag full of hope, confusion, and adjustment.

"The bottom line is we need those scores to be better," Bev Henderson said.

For the next few weeks the Kennewick School District says it'll work to make sense of the results.

Across the state math still continues to be a concern.

Action News talked to the Richland School District about its scores.

Richland says it typically follows the state trends and drops when the state does.

The district says its 5th graders were in a three year upward trend for testing, but this year it dropped off. They're still not sure why.

The Pasco School District's scores have consistently been the lowest in the Tri-Cities.

Action News wanted to know why.

"Demographics is obviously the issue. Nationally we know the kids that come to school with poverty, come with fewer language skills and we have second language learners that are learning a new language.We're trying to look at the long look, are these kids graduating from high school?" Dr. Dennis Maguire, the Associate Superintendent with the Pasco School District said.

The state also released the Adequate Yearly Progress.

It's part of the "No Child Left Behind" act.

The majority of Pasco schools are not passing the progress report.

However, this year, Action News discovered two schools that are meeting AYP that haven't in the past.

Those schools are James McGee and Ruth Livingston Elementary.