MCA scores flat for MN students, St. Paul Public Schools sees slight improvements

Pupil proficiency levels in math and reading stayed relatively flat since last year according to results of the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment tests Statewide of students met or exceeded standards in math and met or exceeded standards in reading both slightly down from the previous year Last year s test results demonstrated of Minnesota students reached grade-level standards in math while tested as proficient in reading Science test results will be disclosed in the fall after the first year of instruction following newly revised academic standards according to leaders with the state Department of Mentoring Consistent attendance rates improved this year and have been trending up since Statewide of students attended at least of the time in the - school year compared to in the - school year St Paul Citizens Schools In St Paul Community Schools students overall scores improved slightly from those of last year About of students scored proficient in math and were proficient in reading Last year about scored proficient in math while were proficient in reading Those percentages are based only on students who take the test and receive a valid count Students who don t receive a valid outcome are those who don t take the test including those who opt-out or are absent For SPPS of eligible students tested in math and tested in reading We have seen a slight increase in our reading scores and a slight increase in our math scores declared Andrew Collins SPPS executive chief of schools It s also kind of very apparent and clear to us that our focus demands to continue to be on again our aspirant outcomes and ensuring that each and every one of our students has a strong academic performance and experience in St Paul Population Schools and that continues to be our focus and our priority Effort to improve attendance Meanwhile in the past school year districts participated in a pilot initiative to improve attendance and state executives are working with those districts to identify which efforts have been bulk effective mentioned Michael Diedrich an coaching plan specialist with the state Department of Tuition In addition to increased attendance rates state agents also saw certain small decreases in proficiency gaps between different novice demographics We re seeing faster increases for the majority of our populations of color for English learners for students in special schooling students eligible for free and reduced price meals Diedrich reported Similarly when we look at testing input for several of those groups we are seeing faster rates of upsurge for students of color and other groups than we are seeing for the state overall So we are seeing signs that we re seeing specific small closure of gaps over time Other initiatives Other ongoing instruction initiatives include the READ Act signed into law in instructor recruitment and retention programs and COMPASS a statewide system to assistance schools in areas such special guidance and English language learning The READ Act aims to have all Minnesota children reading at or above grade level every year and to aid multilingual learners and students receiving special coaching services in their individualized reading goals Teachers and instructional patronage staff began receiving reading instruction training in July with districts requesting training for more than teachers as of January Third graders included in Friday s information entered kindergarten prior to the passage of the READ Act according to state leaders Students take the reading and math MCA tests in third through eighth grades and once in high school Science testing is done in fifth and eighth grades and once in high school function use strict window addEventListener message function a if void a evidence datawrapper-height var e document querySelectorAll iframe for var t in a statistics datawrapper-height for var r i r e i i if r contentWindow a source var d a statistics datawrapper-height t px r style height d function use strict window addEventListener message function a if void a material datawrapper-height var e document querySelectorAll iframe for var t in a information datawrapper-height for var r i r e i i if r contentWindow a source var d a facts datawrapper-height t px r style height d