Clark-Shawnee improves reading scores in latest state report card

Clark-Shawnee Local Schools leaders are proud the district has raised its scores on state report cards, especially on the district’s kindergarten through third grade literacy score.

The Clark-Shawnee district scored three As, two Bs, seven Cs and three Fs on its state report card this year. The district, like many others in Clark County, scored better than last year as the state has settled on testing methods that it had changed over three of the last four years.

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The district received a C on its third grade literacy score, the same as last year. But overall, 68 students who needed reading plans to increase their comprehension scores caught up to the state’s mandate, Clark-Shawnee Assistant Superintendent Brian Kuhn said.

“There was 46 percent (of students who were off track) … moved to on track in the 2016-2017 school year,” “That’s huge. That shows our teachers are using individual instruction and we are showing growth.”

Reading well is essential for not only English classes, Kuhn said, but almost everything a student does in school.

“Reading is a foundational skill for academic success and future success in general,” he said.

One way the district has been successful at getting younger students to read better is by catering to each student individually, Kuhn said, and providing intervention and support.

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The staff has worked hard to make sure students get the best education possible, he said.

“The best resources we have are our teachers,” Kuhn said.

One score that improved is the progress score. The district got a B on it, better than last year’s D. The progress score measures whether students are growing a full year throughout a school year. Earning a C represents a full year’s growth.

A component in the progress score is value-added, which was also a B at Clark-Shawnee.

“In our consumer society, we want to see our value,” Kuhn said. “Our money, time and resources, our value-added score is showing at least a year’s worth of growth and exceeding a year’s worth.”

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The district got Fs on its indicators met and its progress for students in the lowest 20 percent, according to the report card. Kuhn said new state standards have caused many districts to have to reassess how it will meet the standards.

“We can’t ignore the test and we can’t ignore state standards,” Kuhn said. “We need to be mindful of the test and be mindful of what our students need to get them to continue to grow.”

The Clark-Shawnee district also scored an A on its graduation rates and a C on it’s gap-closing score.

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