Show School board approves tests study Is there a correlation between low scores on academic aptitude tests and the low scores on the California Achievement Test registered by Uintah School District students the past three The Uintah School District Board of Education feels there may be and has authorized Burke with Professional Psychological Services in Provo and BYU and Frank district Director of Pupil to make a complete study of the test score Board members and area residents have been alarmed in recent years to learn that district as a have testing out considerably lower than the rest of the nation on the Based on Andreason's recommendation the district contracted with Cundick to conduct an overall study of the student's CAT on Page School board from Page While the district scores were below the national Cundick's study indicates the scores gradually improved each succeeding He reported each grade level made significant Increases in the scores yet failed to reach the national average in all but the lower elementary His study showed that grades 1 through 4 were either at or above the national After the fourth grade test scores began to dip and continued to dip below the national average through the twelfth Cundick and in approaching the school board with their feel there may be a correlation between the aptitude test scores and those of the achievement Andreason explained to the board that the aptitude tests which are given to different grades each year in addition to the measures how well a student is expected to do on the achievement It can be used as a barometer to if you how the student will do on the achievement I They through studying previous years CAT and aptitude test that the area students follow a similar pattern in their They discovered that while the CAT scores were dropping the aptitude test scores were dropping at approximately the same rate or They as mentioned to the that further study in this area may shed some light on the reason or causes the students don't do as well on the CAT or other achievement tests as the rest of the Since the aptitude test takes into account cultural and social factors they are of the opinion the study may unlock the doors as to why the students in Vernal don't measure up with their counterparts It was reported Cundick Is scheduled to be in Vernal next week to begin the study with District students are currently taking the Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills for the first time in the In years past the CAT was used exclusively but was dropped in favor of the because the new test contains tests on social studies and reference Andreason reported to the board this year's control group taking both the and the Short Form Test of Academic Aptitude consists of the eighth and eleventh grades in the All of the other grades in the district are taking only the In other board action the board learned the district is nearing compliance with students taking the Functional tests as required by a state law passed in That law required all students beginning with the 1980 graduating class to successfully pass a minimal test as a pre-requisite for Frank Andreason reported the district began working on which minimum should be included in the test two years and UINTAH COUNTY heavy equipment started tearing down old Vernal First Ward chapel building Monday The after some is nearing implementation of He stated it is hoped at least one test be administered to this year's junior class-the 1980 graduating class since they have to pass it in order to From the test scores school officials will then be able to assist students that have problem areas master their deficiencies so they can It is also hoped the test will be taken into the junior high school to allow for remediation for students that have problem he The board indicated to Andreason they will allow a longer span of time on the agenda at the next meeting to study the test The board discussed time for building will be cleared off to make room for parking for the new Uintah County Hospital administrators and decided to retain the present policy regarding administrator Entered In as the first reading was a time clarification by board president John who time may be used with superintendent's approval any time except during the regular scheduled days of school from to In other teaching request by Lewis of La point for their nine year-old daughter was In allowing her attendance to the home of the received prior approval to teach their children at home-progress reports and testing will be conducted for the board decided to accept a request by Tridell residents for the board to meet with the community there either this week or the was approved to be given annually to the Livestock to for the Oregon Mine Theatre program to be given in the community and school district April 11 and 12 through the sponsorship of the Uintah Arts Council and UHS Drama math trips for the junior and senior high schools approved at no cost to the |