Oregon student assessment results see sharp declines following pandemic
In the first large-scale state assessment of Oregon students since the COVID-19 pandemic, data show students' academic achievement scores are down statewide.
The Oregon Department of Education Thursday released its first statewideassessment results since 2019.
Some rates have dropped by nearly 10 percentage points, and the results show less than half — or in some cases, less than a third — of students statewide are reaching key benchmarks.
According to the latest data, which reflects the 2021-22 school year, less than 44% of Oregon students tested were proficient in English language arts. About 30% were considered proficient in math and 29.5% in science.
By comparison, in 2019, about 53% of students tested proficient in English, 39% in math and 37% in science.
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Statewide assessments were put on hold across the country in 2020 due to the pandemic and subsequent school closures. But in 2021, U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona announced states would not be granted blanket waivers again.
ODE sought a waiver for all tests in 2021. However, the federal education department rejected the initial request. Months later, the state accepted a partial waiver, requiring English, math and science only for select grades. All other grades were offered the tests but not required to take them.
Typically, tests are given to students annually, with the English and math assessments given to students in grades 3 to 8 and 11, and science assessments given in grades 5, 8 and 11. A Level 3 or 4 result means the student has met or exceeded state standards and is considered on track to graduate. Students receiving Level 1 or 2 scores are theoretically identified to receive additional support.
Parents can opt their children out of English and mathematics assessments for any reason by submitting a required form, according to state officials. Federal law requires 95% participation.
Participation rates across Oregon this year, though higher than spring of 2021, have not yet reached pre-pandemic levels.Across all grades and subjects, participation was down, dropping, on average, from about 93% in 2019 to about 84% in 2022.
"Across grades, and across content areas, there were drops in proficiency," said Dan Farley, ODE's director of assessment, during a recent media webinar.
Farley said this was true for all tested grades and demographics. Those who were already below proficiency saw a steeper decline in their test scores, he said, meaning students who were already behind fell further below the benchmark during the pandemic. Historically, this has included students of color, students with disabilities, English language learners and students considered economically disadvantaged.
However, the drops in this year's data were expected.
The state anticipated many students had been stunted by the remote learning period and the overall impact of COVID.
Officials said federal and state investments, including the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund, Student Success Act and High School Success fund, have been pushed to provide aid to schools and get students back on track academically, socially and mentally.
"The pandemic did have an impact on learning, here in Oregon, and in other states," Farley said, adding that studies and progress in other states show recovery is feasible.
"Learning is being accelerated in states that were able to shift back to in-person learning instructional models earlier than we were able to here in Oregon," he said.
Farley said states like Florida, Tennessee and Texas are already showing improvement.
In Florida, math proficiency results for grades 3 to 8 sat at 61% in 2019 based on assessment data. In 2021, the scores were down to 51%, comparable to Oregon's drop in proficiency. However, according to results from Florida's 2022 state assessments, math proficiency for grades 3 to 8 rose to 55%.
ODE Director Colt Gill said Oregon's assessment results are a call to action to keep advancing programs that meet students’ needs.
“While current generations in our country have not experienced learning disruptions on the scale of a global pandemic, previous generations have,” Gill said. “School has been significantly disrupted by disease, natural disaster, war and other events for people in this country and others throughout history.
"We are resilient if nothing else," he said. "... We have already seen assessment scores rising for students who have had more time back in onsite learning."
Salem-Keizer and nearby districts see varying rates
Salem-Keizer Public Schools had higher participation rates than statewide averages, but its proficiency rates were lower, according to the latest data.
Across all grades, only 33.5% of students tested in Salem-Keizer were proficient in English, with about 95% participation. This compares to 43.6% of students and 86% participation statewide.
The same goes for math and science, with 21% of tested students in Salem-Keizer proficient in math compared to about 30% statewide, and 24% proficient in science in Salem-Keizer, compared to 29.5% statewide.
While Salem-Keizer’s participation in these two categories ranged between 91% and 94%, Oregon’s overall ranged between 81% and 84%.
Back in 2018-19, Salem-Keizer’s English and math resultswere also below state averages and declining.
In the latest data, district officials pointed out at least 10 elementary schools were at or above the state average for English language arts. Four of the district's high schools were at or above the state average for the science assessment. However, Salem-Keizer’s overall results fall below the state averages.
Because Salem-Keizer students have not completed state assessments in reading, math, or science since the 2018-19 school year, district officials said they will not draw conclusions or make comparisons to past years.
“This data sets a new baseline for us as we have transitioned out of the rigid health and safety protocols required by the pandemic,” said Superintendent Christy Perry. “It is one of many data points we use to evaluate our systems and make adjustments to improve student outcomes.”
In addition to these results, the district will continue to regularly use internal benchmarks and assessments to inform instruction, officials said. This provides educators a chance to intervene early if a student is struggling, explained communications director Sylvia McDaniel. These include easyCBM and iReady programs for reading and math, in addition to teacher and curriculum-based assessments.
McDaniel also explained state assessments are only conducted in English, which is especially challenging for the many students in local districts who are not English-first speakers. In Salem-Keizer, a reported 96 languages are spoken by students and families districtwide.
More:Oregon, Salem-Keizer schools see low scores, declines on 2018-19 state assessments
Silver Falls School District in Silverton this year saw higher proficiency rates across all three subjects when looking at all student grades compared to Salem-Keizer.
About 56% of Silverton's tested students were proficient in English Language Arts, nearly 38% were proficient in math and about 35% were proficient in science.
That said, Silver Falls’ participation was lower, ranging between 80% and 92%.
In Woodburn School District, participation rates were high, but proficiency rates were low.
Woodburn students across all grades reached just below 21% proficient in English Language Arts, 10.5% for math and 15% for science.
For Central School District in Independence, participation was above state averages, but proficiency was below.
Tested students in Central across all grades reached 34% proficient in English, about 15% in math and about 20% in science. Participation was nearly 90% for English, 85.5% for math and about 90% for science.
"Our elementary schools have shown growth, as seen through our universal screener data, and are closing the gaps in spite of the pandemic," Superintendent Jennifer Kubista said, listing an example of things the state assessment data don't show. She said the gains they're seeing in their own internal assessments are the result of staff aligning standards, implementing interventions and the new implementation of their language arts curriculum K-5.
One focus for Central is building school communities that are inclusive and welcoming. "This is the work we've been doing for the last couple of years, even during the pandemic," Kubista said, "as we continue to develop the whole child, whole educator and whole community."
Value shift for importance of assessment data
There has been a shift in the value placed on statewide assessments since before the pandemic.
Critics of state assessments have previously argued the tests aren't an adequate way to gauge knowledge or retention, nor are they a thorough way to predict students' likelihood of graduating or future success.
State officials agree the snapshots are limited, especially since the collection of data takes time and presents a picture of students no longer in the same classrooms or schools, in some cases.
Additionally, officials with the education department admitted the assessments do not measure the breadth of academic learning of any individual student. They are limited to three academic subject areas. They do not name all the strengths, talents, gifts, or needs of any individual. And, they do not describe the full context of what a school is providing socially or academically to students.
However, officials contend the tests are still an important accountability measure. ODE spends $11.45 million per year on improving, administering, scoring and reporting Oregon’s entire state assessment system.
Gill explained the department is taking a new angle on how it looks at assessments. Instead of determining whether students are doing well or not individually, the assessments are a reflection of the system overall.
"I wouldn't advise a family to take a look at their own child's test scores and make significant decisions around that test score," Gill said. "But for the health of the system, and how we're providing education to students, it is a good measure. I think that we all anticipated that, after a pandemic, we would see an impact on academic learning. And the assessment showed that, so that's a check on that system shows that it's working.
"This creates for us a post-pandemic baseline that the future assessments can help us measure whether we're making progress and helping our students address that unfinished learning."
Gill said in addition to the summative statewide assessment, interim testing throughout the year will be a big help in keeping students on track. On a smaller scale, they will help teachers know where students need extra help in their classrooms.
This reflects a national shift as well.
Cardona shared in a letter to states earlier this month that annual assessment results are "one of several important measures of school performance and progress." Additional measures required by the Elementary and Secondary Education Act include high school graduation rates, English language proficiency and more.
Oregon education officials said the assessment results are easily quantified and receive attention, in part, because they are easily communicated.
Student assessment data is available at oregon.gov/ode/educator-resources/assessment.
Natalie Pate covers education for the Statesman Journal. Send comments, questions and tips to her at npate@statesmanjournal.com or 503-399-6745. Follow her on Twitter @NataliePateGwin.
Miranda Cyr reports on education for The Register-Guard. You can contact her at mcyr@registerguard.com or find her on Twitter @mirandabcyr.