Education in Rhode Island recorded a significant increase in assessment scores for Westerly and Chariho district schools for this school year.
Education in Rhode Island keeping up with Massachusetts
For years, education in Rhode Island uses the state of Massachusetts as a barometer for quality education standards. The state founded the Rhode Island Comprehensive Assessment System (RICAS) to conduct comprehensive standardized tests similar to those in Massachusetts.
This is the second year of RICAS implementation in the state. It was a replacement for the former Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Career Test.
For the first year of RICAS implementation, the results didn’t go well for the Rhode Island community, scores were low as compared to those from the state of Massachusetts.
While the statewide assessment results improved by 3% in Mathematics and 4% in English, the overall statewide performance still lag behind to that of Masachusetts.
– Angelica Infante-Green, Commisioner of Elementary and Secondary Education
According to data, education in Rhode Island is behind 14 points in English and 19 points for Mathematics as compared to Massachusetts assessment test performance.
The results were moving to the direction the education department is aiming for. But still, in its second year of implementation, RICAS is still not a viable determining factor for a consistent trend. The message is clear though that Rhode Island’s performance is on its way to further improvements.
Education in Rhode Island have high standards, a strong assessment, and a lot of on going improvements. We just have to exert more and maintain consistency in the goal for better education quality.
– Angelica Infante-Green
The state-wide performance was also gathered, as follows:
52% of students from Westerly disctrict schools have exceeded performance expectations in English proficiency, from 40% the previous year. In Mathematics, 38% is the new number from 33% of last year.
58% of students from Chariho district schools have exceeded performance expectations in English proficiency, from 54% the previous year. In Mathematics, 47% from last year’s 44.8%.
The Rhode Island state-wide average percentage is 38% in English and 30% in Mathematics.
Rhode Island Board of Education chose Massachusetts standards as a goal for the state’s education system due to its credibility as a national leader in education.
As we complete a second year of testing, we are reminded of how much work we have to do, but incredible possibilities lie ahead if we all follow through on this long-term vision for education. Our students and families deserve nothing less.
-Barbara S. Cottam, Chairman of Rhode Island Board of Education
