State release ELA, Math scores

New York State released the results of its 2012 standardized tests last week. Many of Oceanside’s scores stayed nearly the same or increased, while there were large fluctuations in how Island Park students fared on the tests.

Both districts exceeded the state average for every test, which are given annually in Math and ELA in grades 3 through 8. However, results were much closer to the county average, which both districts just met or fell below in many cases.

“I’m going to meet with the principals over the next couple of weeks and do some further analysis,” said Oceanside Superintendent Dr. Herb Brown, who declined to speak too much about the results until he met with the principals. “We want to use the data to help students and make sure our curriculum is in line with the Common Core Standards.”

Island Park’s results were much less consistent than Oceanside’s. The district saw marked increases — and decreases — in many of its results. Dr. Rosmarie Bovino, superintendent of Island Park Schools, was unavailable for comment.

On the state-wide level, many of the tests so tiny improvements to the passing rates for students. But results are still much lower than they were in 2009 before the state started a more rigorous grading process.

According to a release from the Department of Education, next year’s test will be even more difficult.

“We’re building a ladder, grade by grade, to college and career readiness,” Commissioner John B. King, Jr. said. “Next school year, we start to implement reforms to make that ladder strong enough to support all our students as they climb toward college and career readiness.”