Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Testing topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Students tell El Paso ISD trustees teachers rate readiness higher than students for STAAR, SAT and AP
Summary
Student researchers presented survey results showing teachers consistently rate students'confidence higher than students do for STAAR, SAT and AP exams and urged expanded targeted SAT and advanced-test preparation and better use of district resources.
Student representatives presented an anonymous survey of 362 students and 53 teachers comparing confidence in STAAR, SAT and AP exams and urged the board to expand targeted test preparation.
"For the STAAR our average for students was 7.95, and teachers rated an 8.35," said Michael Bermudez, a student representative from Trans Mountain Early College High School, explaining the student-teacher confidence gap. Bermudez said the largest gap appeared for the SAT, where students averaged 5.65 and teachers averaged 7.45.
Presenters described statistical tests for differences of means and p values they reported on slides; they said some p values were very low (they cited 0.001 for one gap) while other comparisons returned high p values indicating non-significance. The students emphasized the largest observed gaps, particularly for college-level exams, as areas for targeted support.
The student action plan proposed four categories for the coming fiscal year, including an expansion of SAT and advanced-testing preparation, stronger communication about available resources and student-centered academic supports to monitor readiness.
Trustees asked about methodology and whether every student takes the tests cited. A trustee asked if the SAT is administered to all students; the superintendent replied the district offers the SAT to every student and also provides the TSIA (a state college-readiness exam).
Trustees also asked the students to provide the administration with the underlying numbers; one trustee said those figures are necessary to make budget decisions. Several trustees praised the presentation and endorsed exploring student suggestions for budget planning.
Next steps: trustees asked administration to review the students'recommendations and return with numbers and implementation options for consideration in forthcoming budgets.
