The from Colorado’s new science and social studies tests may not be pleasant, but if the state is serious about raising educational achievement, they are necessary.
The low levels of mastery in science and social studies reflect the fact that the state has raised its expectations of what schoolchildren should know in an effort to put them on a trajectory to graduate and begin a successful career or take college courses without remediation.
There’s nothing unreasonable about that. In fact, it’s what we should expect in a knowledge-based economy.
The fact that just 17 percent of fourth- and seventh-graders scored “strong” or “distinguished” shows, quite frankly, the state was right to adjust its expectations in line with college or career readiness.
It’s better to know early on that kids are not keeping pace than to pass them through and allow them to discover cold, hard reality in college, or learn that they are not equipped to perform in a job that earns a decent paycheck.
Before the Common Core critics sound the alarm and let the dogs loose, we should mention these standards are not part of Common Core.
They were entirely devised by Colorado educators, who also created the assessment and the “cut scores,” which delineate levels of proficiency.
We suspect that schools, students and districts will collect themselves and rally. They’ll figure out what they’re doing well and where they’ve got to improve, and they will.
Several other states have been through the same drill as they have adopted and adjusted to new, higher standards.
For instance, fourth-grade social studies students will be expected to analyze primary documents in learning about Colorado history.
“Teaching needs to shift to reflect that kind of focus,” said Joyce Zurkowski, state executive director of assessment.
It’s important to also keep in mind that this is the first time there have been statewide expectations for social studies. And the former science standards were broader and covered several years at a stretch.
Colorado teachers will adjust. Districts will reorient. And students will adapt and grow.
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