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Jul 23, 2009 8:26 pm US/Eastern
City Students Improve In Reading, Math On PSSA
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ―
Pittsburgh schools made progress this year in the state reading and math tests known as the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment or PSSA.
But Superintendent Mark Roosevelt admitted there is still a ways to go to reach the federal standards set for the district.
He said students made gains in 11 of the 14 exams administered in terms of moving toward proficiency.
These include 8th grade math where proficiency scores increased 4 percent and 5th grade math where scores increased 9 percent.
In reading, 8th grade scores increased 8 percent and 5th grade scores 22 percent. Third grade reading proficiency went down 3 percent over last year.
"That is disappointing," said Superintendent Mark Roosevelt. "But it's also a lesson that once you start moving into a range of 60 percent proficiency and up it's hard to keep pushing that needle forward, but we will do so."
Roosevelt singled out a number of schools for special recognition, including Pittsburgh Montessori, where 3rd grade reading proficiency scores increased 46 percent.
Pittsburgh Montessori reading coach Leah Dorsey-Davidson credited individual attention with the increase in scores.
"Some children showed they were struggling so we worked to find ways to meet their needs. We had small group instruction, we had flexible grouping where we'd pull the children in, just until they mastered those specific skills," said Dorsey.
Pittsburgh Sunnyside was also recognized because the school's 8th graders improved nearly 100 percent in the number scoring advanced in reading.
"I've spent a lot of time with the 8th graders," said Sunnyside reading coach Deonne Arrington. "If they were here they would probably say 'That's what's up' so on behalf of the students at Pittsburgh Sunnyside, 'That is what's up'," she said, giving thumbs up.
Despite improvements, Roosevelt admitted scores may not have improved enough to reach federal "Adequate Yearly Progress" levels and vowed to keep on until every child in the district is proficient in core subjects.
"We have worked very hard on implementing a rigorous new curriculum that is consistent across the board and places high expectations on our staff our teachers and also our students," said Roosevelt.
Pittsburgh released their PSSA test results early. Test results for schools throughout the rest of the state will be released at a later date.
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