In a letter released Tuesday, State Education Commissioner Betty Rosa wrote that officials “determined there is content on the new Regents Examination in United States History and Government that has the potential to compound student trauma caused by the recent violence in Buffalo.”

The letter continued, “While developed by NYS-certified social studies teachers more than two years ago and field-tested to confirm that the exam’s content is educationally sound, the tragedy in Buffalo has created an unexpected and unintended context for the planned assessment. In the wake of the Buffalo tragedy, it is not appropriate to administer the exam with a question that could compound the grief and hardship faced by our school communities.”

Rosa said that the 2022 exams had already been printed and packaged for shipment to schools so they cannot be altered. The exam was scheduled for June 1.

At the June Board of Regents meeting, the Education Department will ask the board to approve a graduation exemption for students scheduled to take this test next month.

State Education Commissioner Betty Rosa made the announcement Tuesday, saying no decisions have been made regarding the June and August 2022 administrations of Regents Examinations or any other State assessment programs.

Rosa said the state set a record last week with more COVID-19 cases reported in one day than ever before. She said in a statement, “Once again, the January Regents Exams cannot be safely, equitably, and fairly administered across the state. We will continue to work with our schools, districts, and stakeholders to ensure they have what they need to provide academic, social and emotional, and mental health supports for our students.”

Due to the cancellation of the January 2022 Regents Examinations, the Department will ask the Board of Regents to approve modifications to the assessment requirements that students must meet to earn high school diplomas, credentials, and endorsements. These modifications will apply to all students who are completing a secondary-level course of study or make-up program in January and are scheduled to participate in one or more of the January 2022 Regents Examinations.

Kevin Whitaker

Jamestown Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Kevin Whitaker said he anticipates having more information about school reopening by Friday. Whitaker said he and other district superintendents and school leaders had received a letter from State Education Commissioner Betty Rosa on Tuesday.

Rosa told school leaders that the State Education Department will soon provide back-to-school COVID safety guidance for schools. No timetable was given but the guidance would be based on guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and the American Academy of Pediatrics.

Whitaker said he will be meeting with the Chautauqua County Health Department this afternoon and hopes to put a message out on social media by Friday afternoon on the district’s plans.

On Friday the New York State Education Department released the spring 2016 3-8 Grade ELA and Math assessment results, which includes  data from all schools within the state, including Jamestown.

Statewide,  the percentage of  students in grades 3-8 who scored at the proficient level (Levels 3 and 4) for ELA increased by 6.6 percentage points to 37.9, up from 31.3 in 2015. While Jamestown still lags behind the statewide proficiency average, the district did see a 4 percent increase at the proficient level for all students who took the tests (2,128 students), bringing it to 24 percent (508 students). That’s 4 percentage points higher compared to 2015. In fact, it’s the first time in the past four years that the proficiency rate in ELA saw an increase.

However, student results in Math didn’t see the same level of success. In fact, the overall percentage of students who scored at the proficient level (Levels 3 and 4) actually sent down slightly compared to 2015 test results. According to the state education department, just 21 percent (429) of all Jamestown students (2,069 students) who take the standardized math test this year scored at the proficiency level. It was 22 percent in 2015.

The results were similar at the statewide level as not much ground was gained in overall student proficiency for math. According to state data, the percentage of students who scored at the proficient levels increased this year to 39.1, up just one percentage point from 38.1 in 2015.

JAMESTOWN BEHIND STATEWIDE AVERAGE

As the numbers show, Jamestown still lags behind the rest of the state when it comes to student proficiency in ELA and Math and ranks among the lowest in the state. Socioeconomic factors could play a role. State data shows that an estimated 70 percent of students that attend Jamestown Public Schools are considered “Economically Disadvantaged” – students who participate in, or whose families participate in, economic assistance programs*.

Of the 1,533 students considered economically disadvantaged who took the ELA test, just 17 percent scored at the proficient levels. By comparison, 43 percent of students considered not economically disadvantaged and who took the exams scored at the proficient levels.  For Math the trend was similar. Just 15 percent of economically disadvantaged students scored at the proficient level, while 36 percent of the non-economically disadvantaged students saw their scores at the proficient level.

CHANGES ASSESSMENTS MAY BE REASON FOR IMPROVEMENTS

The increase in proficiency rates statewide could be attributed to recent changes to how the tests are developed and rolled out, while some credit may also be given to teachers and students who have a better understanding of what to expect from the exams.

“The Regents, Commissioner and I have worked hard to make New York’s assessments the best they can be for our students,” Board of Regents Chancellor Betty Rosa said in a media release. “I’ve always said that tests must be diagnostic, valid and reliable while providing timely and practical information to parents and teachers. We made important changes to the assessments this year and we’re going to continue to look at ways to make them even better moving forward. While it’s not possible to make direct comparisons of this year’s results to past years, I’m cautiously optimistic the changes we’re making will drive improvements in teaching and learning.”

“The Regents and I are committed to continuously improving our standards, our curriculum and our assessments,” State Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia said. “Since my first day on the job a little over a year ago, I’ve been listening to parents, teachers, school administrators and the public – seeking their expertise on how we can improve. We’ve taken their advice and made important changes to the exams. It’s an ongoing process, but better standards, better curriculum and better tests will result in better student outcomes.”

Jamestown Public Schools was unable to provide immediate comment to WRFA on the latest test results when contacted Monday morning.

Jamestown Public School ELA Testing Results (2013-2016)

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Jamestown Public School Math Testing Results (2013-2016)

*Economically Disadvantaged students are those who participate in or who’s families participate in one or more of the following public assistance programs: free or reduced-price lunch programs, Social Security Insurance (SSI), Food Stamps, Foster Care, Refugee Assistance (cash or medical assistance), Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), Safety Net Assistance (SNA), Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA), or Family Assistance: Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).