SAT9 results between private, public schools to be compared

The State Board of Education yesterday floated the idea of comparing the SAT9 percentile scores of public and private schools to determine the aptitude levels of students.

But BOE non-public school representative Scott Norman warned the results may not be flattering for PSS, saying private school students are bound to score higher than students from public schools.

“I am not saying this to slam PSS but I am anticipating the results to reveal as such,” said Mr. Norman during a BOE meeting yesterday.

But BOE members stated the measure is not directed at exposing which sector scores higher or lower.

“The public has that preconception anyway. Let’s just air it out,” said BOE member Anthony Pellegrino.

BOE Chair Frances Diaz said several elements justify why public school students would score lower than their counterparts in the private school.

“A lot of times, it’s been said that the student-teacher ratio plays a big role in this because the lower the number of students in the classroom, the easier it is for teachers to attend to the needs of individual students,” said Ms. Diaz. But the board chair cautioned this is not necessarily true in all cases.

She explained there are instances when the student-teacher ratio has no bearing on how fast students absorb knowledge in the classrooms.

“There’s always that certain percentage where it doesn’t work. For instance, if there are five students in the classroom, not all of them are going to be A students. There would be one or two of them who will be average,” she said.

Private schools in the CNMI are being asked to produce a statistics report card similar to what PSS does annually. This year’s data sheet is still being finalized by the PSS Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment team.

The report card will contain statistical data on student population, the number of instructional days, SAT9 scores, and other relevant information.

Results of this year’s SAT9 which the school system conducted on grades 3, 5, 8, 10, and 11 are reportedly an improvement over last year’s turnout. Fourth graders were also tested as information gathered from the test would be helpful toward the Comprehensive Student Accountability Plan which is being developed locally.

Test scores predominantly point to an increase on areas where students were reportedly low during the past year, according to Education Commissioner Rita H. Inos.

“Now that the numbers are done, I am now aware of the cluster of kids who are actually reading as well as those who can read but are not comprehending,” said Dr. Inos.