Thursday, September 12, 1996

New Algebra Test Tough on Texas Students

By Associated Press

AUSTIN - Only 28 percent of Texas students passed the new Algebra I end-of-course test, and education officials said Wednesday they are looking at pilot projects, a curriculum rewrite and teacher training to help improve matters.

"There is a lot to be done. I suppose at that low passing rate, I would at least be concerned about whether or not the test reflects what the kids are being taught," said Senate Finance Committee Chairman Bill Ratliff, former Education Committee chairman.

Ratliff, R-Mount Pleasant, said there may be "a disparity between what we're testing for and what the teachers think they're supposed to be teaching.

"If we don't find a problem there, we have to at least question whether or not we're doing an acceptable job of getting these kids prepared for higher math," he said.

Results of the algebra test released by the Texas Education Agency showed that 28 percent of the 226,348 students who took the test in grades six through 12 this spring passed. The passing score is 70.

Of the 45,764 eighth-graders who took the test, 67 percent passed, along with 86 percent of the 2,115 seventh-graders and 72 percent of the 25 sixth-graders, said Keith Cruse, TEA senior director of student assessment.

In the ninth grade, the passing rate was 22 percent, while it was 7 percent in grades 10-12.
Some students may have failed the course previously, Cruse said. School districts will decide whether the end-of-course test will affect a student's grade.

The algebra test results show a real need for improvement, according to Gov. George W. Bush. "Gov. Bush believes that the algebra results are unacceptable ... The school districts must do a better job to raise the algebra results," said Bush spokesman Ray Sullivan.

Education Commissioner Mike Moses didn't return a phone call from The Associated Press.
The TEA also released end-of-course scores on the Biology I end-of-course test, showing 76 percent of the 202,061 students taking it passed.

Students who pass end-of-course tests in various subjects, beginning in 1998-99, will be exempt from having to pass the exit-level Texas Assessment of Academic Skills exam to graduate.

When state officials approve a math curriculum rewrite for lower grades, they hope to reinforce skills students will need for algebra, said Felipe Alanis, deputy education commissioner.

New essential knowledge and skills specifications were approved for algebra this summer, he said.
The TEA also wants to provide staff development training, Alanis said - for example, to help junior high teachers better get across mathematical concepts.

In addition, the agency is working on a project to set up junior high school pilot programs to concentrate specifically on algebra skills, he said.

"We're not happy with it," Alanis said of the algebra results. "We would hope certainly for much better."

San Antonio lawyer Allan Parker, a proponent of allowing parents to use public funds to send their children to private or public schools, said, "I believe this is an example of how the voucher system would focus laser-like emphasis on the problem.

"Parents could leave schools that do a bad job of teaching algebra. They would flock to schools that do a good job of teaching algebra. That would force the pressure on the school to go find out what their competitors are doing that works," he said.