Bedford Central's State Test Scores Drop; Hochman Gives Perspective

While state test scores for grades 3-8 ELA and Math dropped in the Bedford Central School District amid a statewide decline, Superintendent Jere Hochman is not concerned.

In a community letter, Hochman wrote, "When I am asked, “What do you think about the scores?” my response is generally, “For which purpose?”"

He added that it is "not just about a score" and added that many questions are asked by the district. Factors that Bedford Central officials look at, according to the superintendent, include the overall performance of a student and by subjects, a school's performance and outliers of schools and grade levels.

Data in Bedford Central for the tests of the 2012-13 school year, released on Aug. 7, show scaled mean scores in the low 300's range, in contrast to the upper 600's and lower 700's in the 2011-12 numbers. Percentages that scored in the lower Level 1 and Level 2 on the tests generally increased while the percentages for those scoring Level 3 or Level 4 saw decreases on several exams.

Statewide, Hochman wrote, the proportion of students deemed to be "proficient" dropped by an average of 25 percent for ELA and 35 percent for Math.

The drop in scores did not happen among similar tests, however. This year's tests, the state's Education Department noted in a press release, were the first to measure what are called the Common Core Learning standards.

Weighing in on the adoption of Common Core, Hochman wrote, "The transition to new State standards and assessments along with the program evaluation and review of our Bedford Central curriculum has been at light-speed.  Logically, test scores went down.  To borrow an expression from a colleague, our performance did not decline by twenty-five to thirty percent; rather, the standards and tests got twenty-five to thirty percent more difficult.  Now we will analyze that performance and accelerate our work."

The superintendent also noted strong student performance in other ways.

"Our students’ performance on the SAT, ACT, Advanced Placement tests, academic competitions, and other standard measures; acceptance to over 200 colleges and universities; and success in the tested subjects, the arts, foreign language, and other electives is outstanding.   That puts these first-time State tests in perspective.  We are eager to continue our “school the way it ought to be” approach to school and learning and the measures of success noted above as we analyze and adjust to this baseline of new State standards and tests."

To look up the 2012-13 data, click here (the data is on Page 1860). To look at the 2011-12 data, click here