Contribution

Contributed by G. Alexander Lee, Executive Director- Office of Communications-Kalamazoo Public Schools

KALAMAZOO (MICH.)-Based on the last four years for which data are available for both the district and the state with the old cut scores, from October 2007 to October 2010, KPS increased its MEAP reading test results in every grade, grades 3 through 8, with an average increase per grade of 7.2 percentage points. During the same time period, the state increased its test results on average 3.0 percentage points per grade.

From October 2007 to October 2010, KPS increased its MEAP math test results in every grade, grades 3 through 8, with an average increase per grade of 15.8 percentage points. During the same time period, the state increased its test results on average 7.5 percentage points per grade.

Based on the last four years for which data are available for both the district and the state with the new cut scores, from October 2008 to October 2011, KPS increased its MEAP reading test results in every grade, grades 3 through 8, with an average increase per grade of 8.3 percentage points. During the same time period, the state increased its test results on average 6.2 percentage points per grade.

From October 2008 to October 2011, KPS increased its MEAP math test results in four of six grades tested, grades 3 through 8, with an average change per grade of a 0.8 percentage point increase. During the same time period, the state increased its test results in only one of six grades tested, grades 3 through 8. Overall the state saw an average decline of 1.2 percentage points.

“While we continue to have much room for improvement, in many ways our rate of progress continues to outpace that of the state, with old cut scores or new, with MEAP tests or with other measures,” noted KPS Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice.