Missouri students are making strides in standardized testing, with some categories showing progress that even exceeds pre-pandemic levels. However, there are still areas of concern, particularly in English language arts where students continue to struggle.
The Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education recently presented preliminary scores from the Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) to the State Board of Education. While there have been improvements in some subjects, such as math, English language arts remains a challenge for many students.
Board member Pamela Westbrooks-Hodge expressed disappointment in the lack of significant growth and progress in the test scores. Despite implementing interventions focused on literacy and increased teacher training, English language arts scores have remained below pre-pandemic levels. Westbrooks-Hodge likened the interventions to triage care, stating that they have helped stabilize the educational system but have not yet led to significant improvements in scores.
Lisa Sireno, assistant commissioner of quality schools, emphasized the need for continuous and sustained implementation of interventions at the local level. She noted that it can take up to five years before seeing significant results on large-scale measures. Teacher shortages were also identified as a potential factor impacting scores, highlighting the challenges faced by schools during the 2023-24 school year.
Despite the struggles in English language arts, there has been an overall improvement in test scores across all subjects and grades since 2021. The percentage of students scoring in the “below basic” range has decreased from 24% in 2021 to 22% this year, although it remains higher than the 19% recorded in the last pre-pandemic tests in 2019. Additionally, the number of scores in the proficient and advanced ranges are slightly lower than in 2019.
Math scores, on the other hand, have exceeded pre-pandemic levels, with a one-percent increase in the advanced category compared to 2019 for grades 3-8. Sireno highlighted the success in middle-school math, which has shown significant improvement compared to pre-pandemic levels.
Moving forward, Sireno emphasized the importance of further analysis, especially at the local level, to identify areas for improvement and continue building on the progress made in standardized testing. With ongoing interventions and a focus on teacher training, Missouri students are poised to see continued growth in their academic achievements.
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