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ISAT Data Provides Check-up on Goal #3 (Educate)
One measure of academic student performance is the Idaho Standards Achievement Test, or ISAT. Superintendent Dr. GwenCarol Holmes stated, “The ISAT is one part of an academic check-up that lets teachers, parents and school leaders know if student learning is on track.”
Overall ISAT scores for Blaine County School District students are slightly above the state averages. Dr. GwenCarol Holmes stated, “There are students who are not yet proficient on the assessment and the expectation is that all students can and will be proficient. Closing the gap between students who are not proficient and proficient continues to be the focus for our district.” The Board of Trustees asked for a targeted plan to address the achievement gap last spring. Superintendent Holmes identified student engagement, elementary reading and academic language as the three main focus areas for 2017-18.
“We want all students engaged with their head, heart and hands and teachers who know all students by name, strength and need. We want all students reading at grade level by the time they leave elementary school. By developing a deep understanding of the academic language within each content area, all students will improve reading, writing, and thinking like mathematicians, scientists, economists, etc. All of these are essential to increasing proficiency,” stated Holmes.
In order to gain clarity for instruction and to improve student engagement, Blaine County School District staff began the school year by analyzing the complexity of the standards and sample ISAT items that assess the standards. “Students are more engaged when both students and teachers are clear about what is to be learned and how students will demonstrate what they learned to meet high academic expectations. By working together we can close the achievement gap,” stated Director of Curriculum, Teaching and Learning Angie Martinez.