Haddon Twp. BOE Discusses School-Year Assessment

Liz Mennig, supervisor of teaching and learning, presented an overview of the 2012 Assessment in the Haddon Township Public Schools in a school board meeting last week.

Mennig’s report included an explanation of the assessment instruments used for the report. Students in grades three through eight participate in the ASK, which is the New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge test.

The test focuses on language arts literacy and mathematics. For fourth- and eighth-grade students taking the ASK, a science portion is added to the test. Other tests include the HSPA, which is the High School Proficiency Assessment for 11th-grade students. The HSPA focuses on language arts/literacy and mathematics. Students must successfully complete this test in order to graduate. The SAT, Scholastic Assessment Test and ACT, the American College Testing Program for grades 11 and 12, and Advanced Placement tests are also used.

Mennig explained the changes to the process of determining progress. Prior to 2012, the Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) required all schools to have 100 percent proficiency in all areas and in all subgroups by 2014. States were permitted to apply for a waiver from this process and New Jersey applied with the US Department of Education in order to establish their own statewide proficiency expectations and establish individual school proficiency expectations. Baselines were set from 2011 tests. Each school in Haddon Township had progress targets and is required to reach 90 percent or their individual progress target.

In math, where Haddon Township. students excel, the high school, middle school and all elementary schools except Van Sciver met the state goal. Van Sciver did meet their progress target which is acceptable under New Jersey’s plan. In Language Arts, the high school met the state goal and the middle school and all elementary schools met their progress target.

The presentation included a breakdown by grade levels comparing Haddon Township, which is in the District Factor Group “FG” against other school districts in the “FG” group. Most grade levels tested higher than other “FG” school districts in the proficient or advanced proficient for both language arts and math. Everyday Math for elementary schools will continue as math scores in the district continue to rise. The Middle School math curriculum has been “tweaked” to enhance the current core curriculum.

In other business, the board meeting Thursday began with a moment of silence to honor victims of the Connecticut shooting. Acting Superintendent Cheryl Simone read Gov. Chris Christie’s order for all schools in New Jersey to have a moment of silence at 9:30 a.m. on Friday. Simone asked all school principals to read the governor’s order before commencing with the moment of silence on Friday.

The efforts made by the teaching staff to address concerns from students about the Connecticut shooting were applauded by Simone. Simone continued and said, “As usual, Haddon Township came together and shielded our students.”  

An update regarding the search for a new superintendent was given.

“The search for a new superintendent is going well as the first round of interviews were completed in December," Simone said. "Second interviews will take place in January and I see a replacement coming in the near future.”