Sat, Nov 21 2009
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Published October 28, 2009 12:43 pm - Area high schools have recently received results of the PLAN test given to sophomores. PLAN scores mostly rising at area schools By BURTON SPEAKMAN Glasgow Daily Times GLASGOW — Area high schools have recently received results of the PLAN test given to sophomores.
Most of the schools have posted gains for the 2009-10 year. Keith Hale, principal at Barren County High School, said much of his district’s improvement in the PLAN scores has to be credited to the rigorous coursework. “I’d have to give 90 percent of the credit to the coursework. These kids are being tested in pre-algebra, but they’re currently in algebra 2 if not geometry,” he said. “They’re using techniques they were taught two years ago, so this can’t be short-term memory, it has to be long-term memory.” Barren County’s scores were 17.2 English, 17.7 math, 17.1 reading, 18.7 science and 17.8 composite for 2009-10. This compares favorably to last year’s scores of 16.7 English, 17.2 math, 16.7 reading, 17.8 science and 17.2 composite and the national averages of 16.9 English, 17.4 math, 16.9 reading, 18.2 science and 17.5 composite. Students can’t be taught specifically to the test, Hale said. They have to understand the overall concept not simply provide information for the test, like some others. Students are being asked to recall information they used years ago as part of a time test, Hale said. The PLAN test as well as the ACT are not tests for which specific test preparation can be done. “They’re so broad-based. The students simply have to have a solid grasp of the subject matter,” he said. This is the third year that all sophomores in Kentucky have been required to take the PLAN test and the first year that the district has been above the national averages, Hale said. It’s difficult for Kentucky schools to be above the national averages because not all states require all students to take the PLAN test. In other states only 65 or 70 percent of students may participate and those are the most dedicated students who are headed to college, he said. “It’s a really big accomplishment for us to be above the national average,” Hale said. This year the Glasgow school district results were roughly the same as last year, said Sharon Ritter, district assesment coordinator and instruction supervisor. The previous year the district had posted a big gain in PLAN scores. This year’s scores were 16.6 English, 16.8 math, 16.4 reading, 17.9 science and 17 composite. This compares to 16.2 English, 16.9 math, 16.3 reading, 17.7 science and 16.9 composite last year. The scores remaining roughly the same is just part of the process, Ritter said. “Some years you’ll have a big gain and then you’ll have a couple of years that are roughly the same, then you’ll have another big jump,” she said. “It’s just part of the process.” 
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