DODEA adding new annual test for students
Otis Willie PIO The American War Library
http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=56814
{EXCERPT} Fall exams will look ahead for knowledge gaps, By Kent Harris, Stars
and Stripes European edition, Sunday, August 17, 2008
Why more testing?
DODEA officials say the TerraNova tests are a good way to judge the academic
progress that students are making, but thousands of students are still failing
to hit DODEA’s goals.
Officials plan for new tests to asses the strengths and weaknesses of students
in the fall, so instructors get a chance to concentrate on weak areas before
students take the TerraNova tests in the spring.
TerraNova now
Last year, students in nine grade levels (third through 11) took tests in five
subject areas: reading, language, math, science and social studies. The system’s
goals call for only 7 percent of students to fall into the "below standard"
category by 2011. Out of the 45 (one per each subject per grade level) basic
areas to monitor, students:
met or exceeded the 7-percent goal last year in 19 of the 45 areas. fell just
short of the goal in 14 other spots. had the highest "below standard" rate in
the third grade, in reading, at 13 percent. had the lowest "below standard"
rates by high school freshmen and juniors, both at 4 percent. passed with 45
percent of seventh-graders scoring in the top tier in language, followed by 30
percent meeting the standard, 19 percent partially meeting the goal and 6
percent failing.
What contributes to students falling behind?
According to Marc Mossburg, chief of curriculum for DODEA, there are many
reasons why children can fall behind in any or all areas of study. In addition,
many of the students who didn’t fare as well on the tests were already taking
specially designed classes
Some of the reasons can be attributed to:
learning disabilities. moving from a school district where the subject matter
differed. trouble concentrating during the test due to a deployed parent, or
other stressful life-changes.
The Department of Defense Education Activity plans to administer additional
annual testing starting in the 2009-2010 school year in order to help students
score higher on standardized exams.
The majority of DODEA students scored as well a
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