RIFLE, Colo. — Colorado Student Assessment Program (CSAP) scores were released to school districts this week, and the Garfield School District Re-2 administrators were happy with the progress the students have made.

"We were very pleased," said Julie Knowles, Re-2 director of assessment.

Even with the district still below state averages in all subjects, administrators are confident that the progress they've made, while experiencing uncommon growth in the schools from year to year, is very positive.

"[CSAPs are] working, in that the teachers are focusing more on what they need to teach the students, based on the individual student's needs," said Larry Brady, Re-2 director of curriculum.

"We didn't vary much for the most part from last year's scores," Knowles said. "The state didn't change much either."

The district overall, compounding scores from grades three through 10, made gains in writing, math and science. Reading was the only subject that saw a slight decrease in scores, from 61 percent proficient and advanced in 2005-06 to 60 percent proficient or advanced in '06-07. However, Re-2 remains below state averages in all four subjects despite these gains in three subjects.

"We make progress every year," said Re-2 Superintendent Gary Pack.

Pack said that the growth Re-2 has experienced - 11 percent in the past two years - contributes to the shallow improvements in scores. But Pack maintained that progress is being made regardless of growth.

"We've moved from a community that was pretty stable and now is unstable," Pack said. "Dealing with growing class sizes and students with different needs and still ensuring the level of achievement is tough. The grades aren't much different, but the students and the class sizes are."

Latino students are still struggling districtwide and are well below other students and the state average in all areas. However, new teaching practices, like allowing a student with specific needs the ability to receive instruction from the most qualified teacher - a practice implemented last year by the district - have helped the Latino students jump up 9 percent in science. They also stayed within 1 percent of the previous year's scores in reading and writing, and dropped 2 percent in math.

"We are constantly 'dipsticking' and monitoring the students along the way," Knowles said. "If (students) aren't responding, then we need to change our way of teaching."



Contact John Gardner: 384-9114
jgardner@postindependent.com


Post Independent, Glenwood Springs, Colorado CO