Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

PES sets goals for academic year

Three goals have been targeted by Prescott Elementary School as part of its 2005-2006 school improvement plan.

These goals were announced during the schools report to the public at the October meeting of the Prescott School Board. The goals are:

(1) To improve mathematics skills for all students with a special emphasis on algebra, measurements, data analysis and constructed response questions. To improve problem solving strategies and strategies for multiple-choice questions on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS);

(2) To improve literacy skills for all students with emphasis on open response questions and comprehension on the Benchmark; and

(3) To reduce the number of black students in special education classes.

Students identified by the states mandated tests in K-4 are being given remediation based on specific needs for the individual student, said Janet Gordon, PES principal. The remediation is being given by the teacher or a qualified paraprofessional.

Remediation includes the use of high yield teaching strategies, computer assisted instruction, tutoring and an extended school day. At the start of this school year, students identified as needing help, but dont participate in the remediation process will be held back.

The parent teacher coordinator also sends home extra work with the students for parents to use when helping their child with the skills the child is having trouble with.

In addition, she said, the staff at PES has completed 60 hours of staff development. This was done between July and October. The professional development includes updating curriculum alignment, training in using levelized readers, parent involvement, training in working with non-English speaking students, technology training, analyzing test data and professional learning communities.

Gordon told the Board the test scores for the Benchmark exams for the third and fourth grade. In the fourth grade, she said, 66 percent of the students scored proficient in literacy. This score was higher than the scores of 16 surrounding schools.

The figure in math was 54 percent being proficient, making PES fourth highest in the 16 schools nearby.

For the third grade, the figure was 44 percent proficient in literacy and 63 percent scoring proficient in math. This was the first year for testing third graders under the Benchmark.

In grades K-2, students took the ITBS. The kindergarten scored in the 50th percentile in reading and 59th percentile in math. The first grade was in the 60th percentile in reading and 61st percentile in math, with the second grade testing in the 59th percentile in reading and 69th percentile in math. All of these scores are above the national median score.