Elmont Online

" . . . State Assessment tests in fifth grade Social Studies and fourth grade Science, 97% of our fifth graders achieved scores of 3 or 4 and 98% of our fourth graders achieved scores of 3 or 4."

Al Harper
Superintendent of Schools

The state assessment scores for tests taken in English Language Arts (ELA) by Elmont students during the 2005-2006 school year were recently published in Newsday.  We note the decline in student performance over prior years and we will take immediate steps to address that decline in a variety of ways.

We will review individual student scores and perform an item analysis district-wide on each question and expand that to include a county and state-wide analysis.  This will enable us to see questions and content areas on which the children succeeded and on which there were differences.  We can then review the manner in which our curriculum is being taught, in both curriculum and teaching methodology, and then address any areas of weakness as they are reflected on the test.

Working with our administrators, teachers and support staff, we will determine the areas in which our students may need additional support, and we will devise individualized strategies to provide that support.

While as a district, we are certainly not satisfied with our English Language Arts results, I would note that on the same State Assessment tests in fifth grade Social Studies and fourth grade Science, 97% of our fifth graders achieved scores of 3 or 4 and 98% of our fourth graders achieved scores of 3 or 4.  It is further notable, that the students who earned these marks are the same students whose ELA scores were unsatisfactory.  The Science and Social Studies results are a strong indication that our students are reading at a level that permits inductive and deductive reasoning.

Be assured that we will respond with vigor to the needs demonstrated by the ELA scores.


Al Harper
Superintendent of Schools

< Prev		Next >