State Test Scores Plummet

Not surprisingly, state test scores released Wednesday saw a stark drop in the number of students in grades 3-8 deemed proficient in math and English. The drop was seen across New York, including Glen Cove. 

Both local and state education officials cited the use of new, more rigorous Common Core Standards for tests, noting there was little time to prepare for those new expectations.

Statewide, just 31 percent of students met or exceeded proficiency standards on tests taken in April by students in third to eighth grades. Last year, 55 percent of students were proficient in English and 65 percent were in math.

“This does not come as a surprise as New York State Commissioner of Education John B. King. Jr. acknowledged that scores were expected to be significantly lower than the 2011-2012 scores, effectively creating a new baseline measurement of student learning,” a spokesman for the Glen Cove School District said. “The State Education Department has also acknowledged that a substantial portion of the assessments included material new to districts, that students were never taught.

“The percentage drop in grades 3-8 math and ELA standardized test scores for Glen Cove students is consistent with the overall decline of scores in Nassau County,” he added. “While we are not satisfied with this, we strongly believe there is no correlation between these latest assessment results and our students’ ability to be college and career ready. 

“The Glen Cove School District will conduct a careful analysis of the data to identify our district's specific needs – particularly in the areas of curriculum revision and more intense professional development – in order to place our children in the best position to meet this latest challenge,” he said.

According to the district, specific results and information will be presented at a public Board of Education meeting in September.

On Tuesday, anticipating the release of the weaker scores, State Sen. Carl Marcellino, R-Syosset, wrote, "The other states will begin testing Common Core principles in 2014. Perhaps this fact alone demonstrates that the NYS Education Department (NYSED) may have moved too quickly."

The state’s education department said:

• 31.1% of grade 3-8 students across the state met or exceeded the ELA proficiency standard; 31% met or exceeded the math proficiency standard
• The ELA proficiency results for race/ethnicity groups across grades 3-8 reveal the persistence of the achievement gap: only 16.1% of African-American students and 17.7% of Hispanic students met or exceeded the proficiency standard
• 3.2% of English Language Learners (ELLs) in grades 3-8 met or exceeded the ELA proficiency standard; 9.8% of ELLs met or exceeded the math proficiency standard
• 5% of students with disabilities met or exceeded the ELA proficiency standard; 7% of students with disabilities met or exceeded the math proficiency standard