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ROTTERDAM
District plans more frequent testing
BY MICHAEL GOOT Gazette Reporter
Reach Gazette reporter Michael Goot at 395-3105 or mgoot@dailygazette.net.

    Schalmont teachers will be testing students more during the year to identify those who are struggling and provide them more support services.
    Teachers are also trying to tailor instruction to different students’ learning styles. Instead of waiting until students fail to take action, the district is trying to be more proactive, according to Jason Thompson, assistant principal of Jefferson Elementary School. “The vision behind it is we are catching kids early and monitoring them along the way to make sure they are successful,” he said.
    Like many districts, the percentage of Schalmont students who passed the state English language arts and math tests dropped when the state Education Department raised the standard because offi - cials worried the old bar was too weak.
    For example, the percentage of students who achieved profi ciency in third, fourth and fifth grade was 55, 68 and 57, respectively. Under the old passing score, the percentages for those grades would have been 77, 89 and 89 percent.
    In math, students passing was 59 percent for third grade, 79 percent for fourth and 72 percent for fifth. Those numbers would have been 99 percent, 93 percent and 93 percent under the old standard. .....................>>>>.............................>>>>....................http://www.dailygazette.net/De.....r01302&AppName=1