2007-2008 State Writing Assessment Results
August 24, 2008
2007-08 State Writing Assessment Results
Each year, Nebraska students in grades 4, 8, and 11 participate in the Statewide Writing Assessment. Students write essays in one of three modes—narrative in grade 4, descriptive in grade 8, and persuasive in grade 11—during forty minute sessions on two consecutive days. Each essay is read and scored twice by trained raters at ESU #3 in Omaha. Scores are then added to arrive at the final score, which ranges from 0 to 8.0.
To be considered proficient on the state writing standards, students must score at or above the state cut score.
|
Grade |
State Cut Score |
State Average Score |
Minden Average Score |
% of All Minden Students Considered Proficient |
% of Special Education Students Considered Proficient |
% of Economically Disadvantaged Students Considered Proficient |
|
4 |
4.00 |
5.36 |
4.86 |
91% |
92% |
92% |
|
8 |
4.33 |
5.82 |
6.25 |
94% |
87% |
89% |
|
11 |
4.33 |
5.92 |
6.04 |
94% |
81% |
100% |
“At all three grades, more than 90% of Minden students achieved proficient status, a clear indication of the hard work teachers and students have devoted to developing effective writing skills,” said Joe Green, district assessment coordinator. “Our students in grades 8 and 11 also scored above the state average scores. However, at the fourth grade our students were below the state average score.”
When asked what steps the district is taking to maintain high scores in 8 and 11, and to improve fourth grade scores, Green said, “We recently adopted a district-wide plan that requires teachers in grades 3 through 11 to increase the number of practice essays for the Statewide Writing Assessment. We have always had a strong writing component in our K-12 curriculum,” added Green, “but we intend to devote even more time and energy to helping our students become proficient writers.”
