BOE chair: PSS needs to do more to raise reading levels

Board of Education chairman Roman C. Benavente acknowledged that the Public School System needs to do more in educating its students in view of recent findings that some of them graduate from elementary with a reading level of a second-grader or even below.

“The assessment shows that what the PSS is doing is not enough. I’m aware that PSS is working hard already but it needs to take a more aggressive approach. I do acknowledge their efforts but based on this test results, I’m not satisfied,” said the chairman.

Benavente said the PSS administration headed by commissioner Rita H. Inos has been assuring him that they are moving ahead “but I wonder why this result [came out].”

A reading test using a scientifically based program called STAR assessment and Accelerated Reader that was conducted among students at Hopwood Junior High School showed that most of them read below their grade level.

Records showed that in school year 2002-2003, 93 percent of 7th grade students read below 7th grade level—with the average reader at 3rd level, and with more 2nd and 4th level.

These students were primarily graduates of public elementary schools.

However, this group’s reading ability has improved immensely in a matter of just one year, according to HJHS. In a recent testing, HJHS average readers in 8th grade are now reading at 5th-grade level.

Overall, the assessment reflected a significant 11-percent improvement in student grade placement.

HJHS data showed that from 17 students last year, there are now six who read below 2nd grade level, 34 students read at 2nd grade level (from 65 last year), 68 read at 3rd grade level (from 93 last year), 72 read at 4th grade level (from 85 last year).

From 79 students in 5th level, it rose this year to 86; from 23 students in 6th level, it is now 61 students; and from 28 students reading at 7th level, the figure increased to 70.

Meantime, Benavente agreed that PSS has the discretion to deny or allow students to graduate from school, based on a student’s overall academic standing.

“It depends on the commissioner whether to graduate them or not,” he said, noting that PSS follows “a set of standards” for graduation.

The board chairman said, though, that he himself had received reports about parents refusing to agree with PSS’ decision to flunk unqualified graduating students.

“I’ve heard of parents pleading with PSS not to do it [drop students] to their children,” he said.

BOE chairman said that parents need to realize that if they keep doing this, their own children would suffer in the end.

“They are only delaying the agony. Their children will suffer if they don’t learn now. So I encourage the parents to face the music and be more responsible,” he said.

He said the education of CNMI children actually depends largely on parents’ involvement in their studies.

“Education is not only the teachers’ job but parents as well,” he said.