Reps. Roegner, Buchy Release Statements on ODE Announcement Regarding State Tests and Student Participation

State Representative Kristina Roegner (R-Hudson) and State Representative Jim Buchy (R-Greenville) today applauded an announcement by the Ohio Department of Education stating that, for the 2014-15 Ohio School Report Cards, there will be additional information regarding participation of students in state tests last year and how this impacts the achievement measure score and grade for schools.

The change comes after a small percentage of districts and community schools experienced a significant decrease in student participation on state tests. Discussions with legislators, schools and other stakeholders found that a solution was needed to ensure that students who did not participate in state tests were excluded from the Performance Index Score. For 2014-15 report cards, ODE will provide additional information on a “modified achievement measure” for scores and grades. This will be calculated using data only for students who participated in state tests and therefore won’t include those who opted to not take the tests.

“I am delighted to hear that ODE will be modifying its state report cards to include the ‘modified achievement measure.’ This measure will be calculated from only those students who have taken the assessments,” Rep. Roegner said. “I believe this change will help ensure that parents, teachers, and administrators have more accurate information concerning the education of our children.”

“As a result of the failed PARCC test, many schools faced significant negative impacts on state report cards,” Buchy said. “I applaud the leadership at the Ohio Department of Education for providing an opportunity for Ohioans to compare schools on a level playing field.”

More information can be found here: http://education.ohio.gov/Media/Media-Releases/Nearly-99-Percent-of-Students-Took-State-Tests-Las.