Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Education Assessments topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Wappingers reports roughly 91–92% graduation rate; board debates Regents cut scores and curriculum alignment
Summary
District administrators told the board that graduation rates have held near 91–92% while Regents results showed declines on some exams; board members debated whether New York State cut scores and test literacy demands are misaligned with classroom curriculum.
Wappingers Central School District officials told the Board of Education on Dec. 1 that the district’s graduation rate has remained high while some Regents exam results showed recent drops, prompting a heated discussion about state cut scores and curriculum alignment.
Doctor Cardwell, presenting district assessment data, said the district has had “consistent graduation rates of approximately 92 percent for the past 5 years” and that of students who graduate, about 46% earn an Advanced Regents diploma while 44% earn a Regents diploma. He outlined district efforts to improve literacy and mathematics outcomes, including phonics work in early grades, new writing units, MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports) and partnerships with BOCES and Think Tech for standards-aligned assessments and Regents preparation.
Board members pressed for explanations of recent score drops on specific Regents exams. One member asked whether declines in Living Environment and Earth and Space Science scores could reflect unfamiliarity with a new test format; Cardwell agreed, saying teachers and districts “did not realize the amount of literacy that was going to be on the Regents exam” and that the district would provide additional instruction on literacy in content areas.
Several board members raised concerns about statewide cut scores and how they affect local results. Board member Mister Lumia criticized the state cut-score system, citing that “the cut score in 2024 in algebra 1 was 29 out of 87 points” to pass and calling the approach “dumb” in how it allows relatively low raw-point thresholds to yield a passing score. Doctor Cardwell clarified the district’s limits: “The New York State Department of Education sets the cut scores and everyone in New York State uses those cut scores… Wappingers does not have anything to do with those cut scores.”
The board also discussed grade-to-grade shifts, noting a significant district drop between sixth and seventh grade in both language arts and math. Cardwell said one part of the gap may stem from instructional transitions and noted a pilot of I-Ready math in seventh grade and increased algebra AIS sections. He also highlighted that students who miss required assessment days are assigned the lowest score, which can negatively affect aggregated results.
Board members requested deeper review at the curriculum committee meeting scheduled for Dec. 4, where staff and teachers will present specific Algebra 1 instruction and materials. President Johnson and other trustees emphasized the district’s strong graduation rate while reiterating a desire to raise performance further.
What’s next: The curriculum committee will discuss Algebra 1 and assessment alignment on Dec. 4; the board extended the public meeting time during tonight’s discussion to continue the review and questions.
