By Eileen Oldfield, Staff Writer
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The state standardized test scores are tallied, and the results show all four Manville Schools made state-set benchmarks on 2007’s standardized tests.
Scores released earlier this year designated two schools, Weston School and Alexander Batcho Intermediate School, as failing to reach the testing benchmarks.
However, the first reports did not include Alternate Proficiency exams some special education students take and include scores from English as a Second Language students who have been in the district less than a year.
The Alternate Proficiency exams take longer to assess than normal standardized tests and are not included in the first report. Scores from ESL students who have been in the district less than a year are included in the scores released first, but not factored into the second set of scores.
For the principals, the second scores show something the district knew from the outset the schools passed. While the second scores vindicate the school’s efforts, it’s still frustrating to release incomplete, and sometimes inaccurate, scores, they said.
”This just confirms it and confirms the ineptitude of the state Department of Education to give more attention to the cycle 1 scores (first released scores) than to the cycle 2 scores (second released scores) when the cycle two scores are, in fact, the correct ones,” Don Frank, Weston School principal, said. “I think there are a lot of people in education who work very hard … It borders on being libelous that the state prints the test scores … knowing that they are going to change.”
Initially, the scores reported students in the Hispanic subgroup and the economically disadvantaged subgroups failed to meet the state-set 75 percent proficiency benchmark on the language arts and literacy exam.
”It justifies that my teachers do work hard, and the passing results do not surprise me,” Mr. Frank said. “We did feel all along, knowing what all the subgroups are and what would get weeded out, so it wasn’t a surprise for us.”
Though the staff knew the school’s success before the final scores were released, the teachers continued working with students and parents to prepare for this year’s tests. Preparation included holding two workshops for district parents where teachers introduced the test content to help parents prepare students for the tests, Mr. Frank said.
Dr. James Brunn, principal at Alexander Batcho Intermediate School, echoed Mr. Frank’s comments.
”It’s just a snapshot, and I wish the state would take a video,” Dr. Brunn said. “… We have no problem with accountability. We just want them to realize we have no one trying to not meet state standards. It just doesn’t make sense to me.”
The first scores released for Alexander Batcho Intermediate School had the students with disabilities (special education) and the economically disadvantaged subgroups missing the language arts and literacy goals. The students with disabilities subgroup also missed the proficiency benchmark on the math exam as well.
”I think it’s very positive,” Dr. Brunn said of the correct scores. “We feel that the kids have worked hard, and we’ve worked hard, and it’s just a very positive indication.”
Like Weston School, Alexander Batcho Intermediate School recently hosted a parents night where teachers at the school introduced test questions and materials to the attendees. Teachers provided study resources for parents, including Web sites with sample tests students can take.
”I think our efforts have always been there,” Dr. Brunn said. “I think we’re being more efficient with how we use instructional time, not that we weren’t (efficient) before. Now we’re learning, we’re talking, we’re discussing things.”

