State releases 2013 STAR results
08/08/2013 - The 2013 Standardized Testing and Reporting (STAR) scores released today yielded a mixed bag of results for Sonoma County schools—and for schools across California. Countywide results, while generally ahead of state averages, were down in English-language arts, history-social science, and science, but held steady in mathematics. State results were up in history-social science, but down in other content areas.
These scores are from the STAR tests administered statewide in Spring 2013. Over 53,000 Sonoma County students in grades 2-11 took the exams. Fifty-eight percent scored proficient or advanced in English-language arts, down three percentage points from last year but still two points ahead of statewide results. In math, 52 percent of Sonoma County students scored proficient or above, which is the same as last year and one point above this year’s state average.
Countywide history-social science scores dipped by one percentage point and science scores fell by two.
“I am not surprised that test scores are less positive than in the past,” says Dr. Steven Herrington, Sonoma County Superintendent of Schools. “Over the last six years, school district budgets have been cut dramatically and we were bound to see this financial stress take a toll on student learning. With the passage of Proposition 30 and the revised budget formulas for this school year, I expect to see our county’s scores recover in short order.”
Throughout the history of STAR testing, Sonoma County has had both up and down years, but the overall trend has been positive. Much higher percentages of students are reaching or exceeding proficiency than when the program started.
“At this point, we don’t have an explanation for why this year’s STAR scores were not better,” says Mickey Porter, assistant superintendent for instructional services at the Sonoma County Office of Education (SCOE). “I know that local schools will be studying their STAR data over the next few months and fine-tuning their focus on student learning. Our schools will need to concentrate on English-language arts as county scores in this content area were down at most grade levels. It is a SCOE priority to help them in this effort.”
The STAR tests have been administered in California since 1998 and are aligned with the state content standards that were developed in 1997. In 2010, California approved new standards, known as the Common Core State Standards, which are nationally developed standards that 45 of 50 states have adopted. Schools are now beginning to transition to the Common Core and preparing for full implementation in 2014-15. New assessments aligned with those standards will be given to students in Spring 2015, replacing STAR testing.
More information about the STAR program and school, district, county, and state results are available on the California Department of Education website.
Additional Resources
Press Release with 10-year Sonoma County STAR Results (pdf)