Show I Spot checks made on Seniors Seniors' S ability to graduate A rising Interest in applied performance testing along with witha a public concern about the quality of the high school diploma are together finding a common ground This common ground graduation requirements sets the expectations ex ex- for Cor students completing com coma a secondary school education STUNG DY BY national reports about the def deficiencies of today's graduates the Uintah School District is launching efforts to ensure that high school graduates can perform some basic skills The method most commonly used to accomplish this objective is through competency or proficiency testing Here proficiencies or capabilities can be assessed rather than assumed Competency or Proficiency Tests are referenced criterion measures They are deliberately constructed to yield measurements that are directly interpretable in terms of specified performance standards referenced Criterion-referenced tests are not designed to determine an individuals individual's relative standing in some norm horm norm group Rather they tell what an individual can or cannot do with certain requirements The Uintah School District is in the process of developing proficiency tests for fifth eighth and eleventh grade students The twelfth grade students will be tested at the end of the semester this year to help establish the proficiency levels and possibly recognize graduating seniors who do well wellon on the test Because this trus year our senior students will be a pilot program those who do donot donot donot not pass the test will not be denied graduation They may however be provided alternatives alternatives alternatives alter alter- natives in the last semester to help them achieve the desired proficiencies Students with special specia learning difficulties will willbe willbe willbe be considered on an individual basis TilE THE CENTRAL purpose of the competency tests is t to identify and educational deficiencies for the benefit of the individual as well as to assure assur society of some minimum c competencies The district is presently considering alternatives alternatives' for students who have spent three or more years in high school but still lack competencies These include special diplomas attendance certificates certificates cera certificates of competency competency com com- or diplomas diploma's with endorsements certifying that the student has or has not met specified competencies Prior to the final examination being given at the end of this semester the district wanted to ascertain in what percentage of our seniors could not do simple skills so necessary in society Unfortunately the results concurred with national surveys surveys surveys sur sur- veys of a similar model However the important fact to remember is that this trus testing will help educators tors know where additional emphasis should be provided If the pilot program works out as expected next years year's seniors will need to pass this examination in order to graduate thus bring a large degree of student as well as professional accountability In this sample testing two neighboring districts outside the Uintah Basin were likewise tested In general terms our students fared Cared better than district number one one but trailed significantly district number two SOME OF OP TilE THE results of this sample showed the following results 86 percent of our seniors could read a simple blueprint and do simple computational math compared to a national average of 84 percent 28 percent could figure square feet from a blueprint 35 percent national average 58 percent could figure interest necessary in purchasing a new car r 66 percent national average 84 percent could spell the days of the week 73 percent knew what the word credit meant 55 percent knew the checks and balances system of government government government govern govern- ment 87 percent could do simple subtraction of four place numbers 77 percent could properly fill out a personal check 78 percent knew the meaning of insulin 54 percent knew what the Bill of Rights is national average of 78 percent and 77 percent could properly complete an application application application ap ap- form In addition our district graders were tested on material they should know Our district received superior results over another district similarly tested 81 percent of our tested youth knew which continent th the United States was on 97 percent percent percent per per- cent knew the capital city of ot Utah 91 percent knew who the first President of the US U.S. was 64 percent knew the mountain range in the Western US U.S. 86 percent knew the heart was the organ orga of the body which pumps pumps' blood 87 percent knew Thomas Edison to be the inventor of the electric light 91 percent could add dd 72 78 percent could subtract 78 82 percent co could ld spell the days of the week 89 percent knew the meaning of the word construction construction construction con 91 percent had dem demonstrated a a good knowledge of skills 72 percent could use correct verbs 92 perc percent nt could use basic punctuation marks correctly and 68 percent could compute basic story problems using dally daily time lime Information The Uintah School District has been thrust Into the forefront of the state In meas meas' ments of this kind should rest assured they will get what hat their tax dollars pay for tor in this district r. r r j A 1 BOYS LEAGUE AND GIRLS LEAGUE representatives meet with Faculty Sponsor J. J J D. D Smith and Principal Bert Gividen In a planning meeting From left to right they are Mr Smith Ellen Morrell Moana Moona Wardell Scott Ruppe Nick Meagher Clay Robb and Principal Gividen |