state test scores

Struggling students have mixed results in Title I program

Charla Bear — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 01:05:38 +0000

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kplu/local-kplu-982182.mp3

Some students with the lowest test scores in Washington have made big gains over the past few years, while others have fallen farther behind.

Researchers found a mixed bag when they looked at the Title I program, a federal effort to help disadvantaged kids.

Charla Bear — Thu, 20 Jan 2011 13:10:04 +0000

http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/kplu/local-kplu-946636.mp3

Nearly a third of children in Washington don’t appear to be ready for kindergarten. And more than half aren’t likely to have necessary language skills. The findings come from the state’s first attempt to assess some of its youngest students.

The assessment, called WaKIDS, includes evaluations of four domains:

KPLU News Staff — Thu, 13 Jan 2011 16:45:19 +0000

Half of Tacoma's middle schools now rank among the lowest-performing in the state. Baker Middle School is the fifth to land the dubious distinction.

The bright side? Low-scoring schools become eligible for federal grants intended to help turn things around.

The News Tribune's Debbie Cafazzo reports Baker's student scores may reflect their challenges at home: