BOE approves revision of PSS standards, benchmarks

The Board of Education has approved revisions to the Public School System’s standards and benchmarks to effectively measure the performance of students by refining the performance indicators used in weighing children’s learning.

Education Commissioner Dr. Rita A. Sablan told Saipan Tribune that the revision would allow for more in-depth knowledge and comprehensive understanding of the rubrics, with emphasis on content areas—Math, Science, English, Social Studies, and Language Arts.

These revisions, according to Sablan, are aligned with the school curriculum from Kindergarten to 12th grade.

She said the revisions were reviewed by teachers, administrators, program managers, and PSS staff.

“The refinements or revisions are based on how our students are expected to perform in terms of content knowledge,” Sablan said.

She said PSS has been continuously using the same standards and benchmarks since the 1990s.

“We made it more comprehensive in terms of the expectations of the board, and for our students—when they graduate—to be able to compete. This is also an effective measure for them to get ready for college,” Sablan said.

She said the refinements also cover auxiliary programs such as vocational, fine arts, and physical education but the emphasis and focus were on the four main content areas of English, Math, Science, and Language Arts.

Sablan pointed out the “progressing” data of students based on the standards and benchmarks.

“Every curriculum is actually implemented to enrich students’ knowledge and skills,” she said.

Academic competitions such as the National Forensic and Junior Forensic Leagues, Math Court, and the Chamorro/Carolinian Academic Bowl are all designed in accordance with school benchmarks and standards, she added.

Board vice chair Herman T. Guerrero said after a recent board meeting that revisions are necessary to see continuous progress in student learning.

“In order for PSS to meet and exceed the goals it sets, some adjustments and refinements in the rubrics are needed. …The board welcomes every move to develop further the learning of our students in public schools,” Guerrero told Saipan Tribune.

The PSS wants to have all its students entering Grade 4 to be reading at grade level by 2008; that 80 percent of students are reading at or above grade level by the end of SY 2008-2009; and all students are scoring at the 50 percentile or higher on average on the Stanford Achievement Test by 2010; as well as 90 percent of students are scoring at the proficient level or above on the PSS standards-based assessment by 2014.