By James Votruba and Leo Calderon
Prichard Committee
We’ve become accustomed to receiving mixed news about education progress in Kentucky, and the latest state test results do nothing to break that pattern when it comes to narrowing achievement gaps among groups of students.
Yes, there has been progress in our efforts to deliver educational excellence with equity. But we are still falling far short of the goal we must reach to ensure that each and every student receives a high-quality education.
The Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence has recently accelerated its efforts in this critical area. The statewide citizens group released Excellence with Equity: It’s Everybody’s Business in the fall to spotlight the importance of closing the achievement gaps that are denying thousands of students the opportunities that education offers. The report notes the importance of quality early childhood education, which has been an area of progress in Northern Kentucky and will continue to be a priority for us.
In Northern Kentucky, we are determined to continue our progress until the gap no longer exists. We should be satisfied with no less.
More recently, the committee followed up with “2016 Statewide Results: An Excellence with Equity Report,” the first of what will become an annual analysis of elementary and secondary students’ test results.
This latest report points out that, while no single assessment can give a complete picture of student learning, the results provide an important snapshot of recent progress and the work that lies ahead.
The report, which also incorporated graduation rates and the percent of students ready for college and career, revealed the following about the statewide results. It is based on information from Kentucky’s 2016 school report cards.:
Good news for students with identified disabilities, including improvement in math, reading and college/career ready graduates along with narrowing gaps on most indicators.
Mostly good news for students eligible for free or reduced-price meals, with growth in math, reading and college/career ready graduates and with all gaps shrinking between those students and their classmates with higher family incomes.
Mixed news for African American students and students of two or more races, with improvements in math, reading and college/career ready graduates, but many gaps getting wider compared to their white (non-Hispanic) classmates.
Troubling news for Hispanic students, with math as the only improving subject and most gaps getting wider compared to their white (non-Hispanic classmates).
Troubling news for English learners, with a pattern of declining scores and widening gaps compared to students who are not English learners.
As the report points out: “Where there is good news here, it is good news about making one worthwhile step in a long journey. We need sustained improvement at a robust pace, year after year, to equip all of Kentucky’s students for successful futures.”
There was progress on math scores, for example, and that is worth celebrating. But three examples from the statewide results show how much work remains to be done:
For elementary students with identified disabilities, 3.4 percent growth in math proficiency is good news and it still means only 28.2 percent of those children are proficient.
For middle school students eligible for free or reduced-price meals, a 4.4- point step up in mathematics is important and it only moves that group to 35.6 percent proficient.
For high school African American students, a 4.5-point increase is exciting and not nearly enough when only 27.3 percent of those students have reached proficiency.
It is time for a new headline spreading the news about education in Kentucky. Here’s one we can all look forward to: Test results show each and every student achieving at high levels.
Dr. James C. Votruba is President Emeritus and Professor of Educational Leadership at Northern Kentucky University where he served as President from 1997-2012. Dr. Votruba has served in a variety of regional and statewide leadership roles devoted to advancing education, economic, and social progress. He chaired Vision 2015 which developed a comprehensive strategic plan for the northern Kentucky region. He currently serves on a variety of boards and his work on behalf of state and regional priorities has been recognized through a broad range of awards and recognitions.
Leo Calderón is director for Latino Programs and Services at Northern Kentucky University in Highland Heights. His almost 31 years of experience at NKU have included providing academic guidance to students and serving as liaison with faculty, staff, administrators and community leaders to promote Latino student success. He is a former member of the Kentucky Board of Education and served on the Kentucky Health Committee and participated in the Global Education Leaders Program.