Struggles seen on new Missouri educator certification exams | State News | columbiamissourian.com
Struggles seen on new Missouri educator certification exams | State News | columbiamissourian.com
KANSAS
CITY, Missouri — Missouri education officials are proposing changes
after test-takers struggled on new certification exams, particularly
those for aspiring math and science teachers.
CITY, Missouri — Missouri education officials are proposing changes
after test-takers struggled on new certification exams, particularly
those for aspiring math and science teachers.
The
proposed changes, which will be discussed Tuesday at a Missouri Board
of Education meeting, include giving test-takers more time and fewer
questions to answer on some of the exams. Fifty-five content tests
measure readiness to be everything from classroom teachers to
superintendents. On six of them, fewer than half of test-takers passed,
newly released data shows.
proposed changes, which will be discussed Tuesday at a Missouri Board
of Education meeting, include giving test-takers more time and fewer
questions to answer on some of the exams. Fifty-five content tests
measure readiness to be everything from classroom teachers to
superintendents. On six of them, fewer than half of test-takers passed,
newly released data shows.
Issues
arose after the state switched certification exams in September.
Instead of taking a test known as Praxis II, students now must fare well
on a more rigorous assessment called the Missouri Content Assessment.
Through April 12, more than 7,100 of the tests were taken.
arose after the state switched certification exams in September.
Instead of taking a test known as Praxis II, students now must fare well
on a more rigorous assessment called the Missouri Content Assessment.
Through April 12, more than 7,100 of the tests were taken.
Paul Katnik, an assistant
commissioner for the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary
Education, described some of the low pass rates as "not good for us and
our state." The drops were most profound on tests for math and science,
subjects many districts struggle to find enough people to teach.
commissioner for the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary
Education, described some of the low pass rates as "not good for us and
our state." The drops were most profound on tests for math and science,
subjects many districts struggle to find enough people to teach.
The
pass rate for people seeking to teach middle school math dropped to 45
percent from 100 percent. Among those seeking to teach at the
high-school level, the pass rate dropped to 19 percent from 72.9 percent
for math, to 25 percent from 66.7 percent for physics, to 52 percent
from 65.1 percent for chemistry, to 52 percent from 59.1 percent for
general sciences and to 55 percent from 79.9 percent for biology.
pass rate for people seeking to teach middle school math dropped to 45
percent from 100 percent. Among those seeking to teach at the
high-school level, the pass rate dropped to 19 percent from 72.9 percent
for math, to 25 percent from 66.7 percent for physics, to 52 percent
from 65.1 percent for chemistry, to 52 percent from 59.1 percent for
general sciences and to 55 percent from 79.9 percent for biology.
On
only a few of the tests, including the ones for aspiring librarians and
Spanish teachers, did students fare better on the new test than the old
one.
only a few of the tests, including the ones for aspiring librarians and
Spanish teachers, did students fare better on the new test than the old
one.
The decline in scores was
expected because the tests were based on more rigorous new national
education standards, said Sarah Potter, a spokeswoman for the education
department.
expected because the tests were based on more rigorous new national
education standards, said Sarah Potter, a spokeswoman for the education
department.
"The rigor of the
standards has increased, so we needed to update our assessments, we
needed to test differently," she said. "We want to be sure teachers know
the content very well so they can pass their knowledge on to their
students."
standards has increased, so we needed to update our assessments, we
needed to test differently," she said. "We want to be sure teachers know
the content very well so they can pass their knowledge on to their
students."
Diana
Rogers-Adkinson, Southeast Missouri State University's College of
Education dean, said some students are struggling because schools didn't
have enough time to revamp their curriculums before the state rolled
out the new tests.
Rogers-Adkinson, Southeast Missouri State University's College of
Education dean, said some students are struggling because schools didn't
have enough time to revamp their curriculums before the state rolled
out the new tests.
"I think a lot of us are pretty frustrated," she said, adding that her school's curriculum changes take effect this coming fall.
Hap
Hairston, the director of educator preparation for DESE, said people
can still apply for teaching jobs without passing the test. If they get
an offer, they can get a provisional certification that gives them two
years to pass the certification exam.
Hairston, the director of educator preparation for DESE, said people
can still apply for teaching jobs without passing the test. If they get
an offer, they can get a provisional certification that gives them two
years to pass the certification exam.
But Rogers-Adkinson said a lot of districts won't hire teachers who aren't fully certified.
Other
changes being considered by DESE are reconvening committees involved in
the development of some of the math and science tests to ensure that
the tests are measuring the right things. So far, the state isn't
recommending that the scores required to pass the exams be lowered,
although that is an option in the future, Katnik said.
changes being considered by DESE are reconvening committees involved in
the development of some of the math and science tests to ensure that
the tests are measuring the right things. So far, the state isn't
recommending that the scores required to pass the exams be lowered,
although that is an option in the future, Katnik said.
He said the state will continue to monitor scores as changes are made.
"If
we see that numbers aren't moving we will have to do something else,"
he said. "If there is a change in numbers, we will know we have
addressed the right thing. If not, we will know we need to do something
more."
we see that numbers aren't moving we will have to do something else,"
he said. "If there is a change in numbers, we will know we have
addressed the right thing. If not, we will know we need to do something
more."
Katnik said it wasn't
surprising that scores were lowest on math and science tests because the
subjects are a weakness for the overall population. But he asked:
"Where do you break that cycle of folks not being particularly strong in
math and science? One way to do is have teachers that are great in math
and science."
surprising that scores were lowest on math and science tests because the
subjects are a weakness for the overall population. But he asked:
"Where do you break that cycle of folks not being particularly strong in
math and science? One way to do is have teachers that are great in math
and science."
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