Early grades: Identifying students early to provide extra help

 

Different beginnings

2006-07

% of students in poverty

% of kindergartners starting school with basic pre-reading skills

Nampa

51%

38%

State

43%

50%

Boise

36%

58%

Caldwell

74%

20%

Kuna

31%

50%

Meridian

20%

64%

Vallivue

58%

37%

Poverty levels determined by eligibility for free or reduced priced lunch. Pre-reading skills are measured by the Idaho Reading Indicator given in the first month of school. For IRI information visit: http://www.sde.idaho.gov/ipd/iri/IriAnalysis.asp

 

Kindergartners arrive for their first day of school in Nampa with very different skills and life experiences.

 

Some children show up ready to read, and some are reading. Others arrive without some essential pre-reading skills such as knowing their ABCs. Living in poverty influences the preschool experiences of more than half of our kindergartners.

 

State test results show that in Nampa (and in all Canyon County school districts) far fewer kindergartners arrive with essential pre-reading skills compared to their state and Ada County counterparts.

 

We use the scores from state tests to identify struggling readers early. We strive to catch them up in a variety of ways based on their needs including:

 

% of Nampa Fifth Graders Proficient & Advanced in Reading & Math Spring 2007

 

Reading

Math

All

72%

69%

Male

70%

70%

Female

73%

68%

Hispanic

56%

55%

White

79%

75%

Limited English

51%

50%

Special Education

32%

33%

Economically

disadvantaged

62%

61%

 In 2007, the state changed its reading and math tests making past comparisons difficult.  Prior to the change, Nampa students had shown four years of continuous improvement. For more ISAT information visit: http://www.boardofed.idaho.gov/saa/ISAT_SP07.asp

·         providing before or after school programs,

·         offering more time with teachers and reading specialists, and

·         giving additional language support for non-English speakers.

 

Despite beginning far behind their peers in the state and in neighboring districts, children blossom our elementary schools. And, our results show that students make dramatic gains during their time with us.

 

For example in 2007, 72% of Nampa’s fifth graders were proficient & advanced in reading and 69% were proficient in math; yet as kindergartners in 2002, less than far less than half arrived with basic pre-reading skills.