2022 CAASPP RESULTS

Results for the 2022 California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) were publish by the California Department of Education on Monday, October 24th, 2022.

To view the latest results click on the link -> 2022 CAASPP Results

96% of California students enrolled were tested and 99% of students tested had valid results.  A relatively close level of participation as the pre-COVID years of 2018 and 2019.

COVID, school closures, and distance learning had a negative effect as indicated by the results.  Students will be in need of academic support in both English Language Arts and Mathematics for several years to restore the progress that students had achieved prior to COVID.

2022 CAASPP RESULTS MATH

• Nearly one third of California students (33.38%) met or exceeded state standards in Mathematics.
• Less than 1 out of 5 California students (18.22%) scored above state standards in Concepts and Procedures.
• Less than 1 out of 6 California students (15.51%) scored above state standards in Problem Solving and Modeling & Data Analysis.
• Less than 1 out of 6 California students (14.77%) scored above state standards in Communicating Reasoning.

2022 CAASPP RESULTS ELA

• Less that half of California students (47.06%) met or exceeded state standards in English Language Arts.
• Less than 1 out of 5 California students (19.49%) scored above state standards in Reading.
• Less than 1 out of 5 California students (19.43%) scored above state standards in Writing.
• Less than 1 out of 7 California students (13.32%) scored above state standards in Listening.
• Less than 1 out of 5 California Students (18.48%) scored above state standards in Research and Inquiry.

Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2022.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

August 2022

 

As August comes to a close let us reflect on the events that took place.

Beginning with the end of Summer School and Summer educational activities, through the lesson planning for the new school year, new beginnings as staff transitions into other phases and new educators begin in new sites, preparing to welcome students as they come Back To School, and learning of new and updated guidelines with regards to COVID and various interactions.

Educators get ready to start the new school year and students come back, keep in mind that education is still adapting to new norms while addressing damages done to learning over the last two years.

As August comes to a close we look forward to a new school year full of possibilities, growth, and hope.

Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2022.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

Living with COVID

 

We are approaching the second anniversary of the COVID outbreak it is clear that COVID, and all its variants, will be a part of our lives from now on.

Education has taken a significant hit as student growth, particularly in the lower grade levels, has declined or remained stagnant.  Schools will have to get students most affected caught up with their classmates, a process that will be long term and require identification and intervention.

So far we have seen a variety of strands, each with their own properties as far as infection rate and symptoms, and the effect they have had in education.  Students and teachers have missed class time while isolating or recuperating.

This will continue to be the norm for the foreseeable future and schools must remain alert while creating contingency plans for instruction loss.

It will be our ability to adapt to COVID that will help us truly overcome what has been the most disruptive disease of the 21st century thus far.

We are going to be living with COVID, but we will adapt and persevere.

It is in our human nature to do so.

Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2022.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

January 2022

 

January has come to a close and it was challenging for education.

As staff and students returned from Winter Break, the latest COVID variant began to show its effects with many people testing positive for the new strand, causing them to have to go into isolation thus missing time in school.

The good news is that vaccines have proven effective with the number of deaths and ICU hospitalizations having been drastically reduced from January of last year.  It also helped that the new strand, Omicron, although highly contagious, was relatively mild in severity.

Nonetheless, January's absence from school may have an impact on the overall academic achievement abyss that COVID has caused over the last two years.  This is clearly reflected in the results from the 2021 CAASPP which showed that less than 50% of students tested met or exceeded the English Language Arts state standards and in Math, only a third of students tested met or exceeded state standards.  To make matters worse, less that 25% of students in California were tested, so the data represents a very small fraction of the overall student population of the state.

Yet with all these challenges, educators continue to do their best to provide instruction to students with the support of their families and school administrators.  As we cross the second half of the school year, and begin to see the next graduating class rising over the horizon, we must continue to strive and persevere making education a priority in our lives.  We plan, prepare, and hope that the months ahead will be bright and full of positive growth.

Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2022.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

2021 CAASPP RESULTS

Results for the 2021 California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress (CAASPP) were publish by the California Department of Education earlier this month.

To view the latest results click on the link -> 2021 CAASPP Results

COVID had a significant impact in the results most significant of which is that less than 25% of students throughout California were tested, compared to 97% in both the 2018 CAASPP and 2019 CAASPP.

As a result of this drastic decline in student participation test results for 2021 must be cautiously utilized for the purposes of policy making and/or instruction implementation.

Nevertheless, the 2021 CAASPP results clearly illustrate the academic abyss that continues to expand between those students meeting or exceeding state standards.

2021 CAASPP RESULTS MATH

• Nearly a third of California students (33.76%) met or exceeded state standards in Mathematics.
• Nearly 2 out of 11 California students (18.19%) scored above state standards in Concepts and Procedures.
• Nearly 2 out of 12 California students (16.06%) scored above state standards in Problem Solving and Modeling & Data Analysis.
• Nearly 2 out of 13 California students (15.47%) scored above state standards in Communicating Reasoning.

2021 CAASPP RESULTS ELA

• Less than half of California students (49.01%) met or exceeded state standards in English Language Arts.
• Nearly 1 out of 5 California students (21.26%) scored above state standards in Reading.
• Nearly 1 out of 5 California students (21.35%) scored above state standards in Writing.
• Nearly 1 out of 6 California students (13.14%) scored above state standards in Listening.
• Nearly 1 out of 5 California students (22.39%) scored above state standards in Research and Inquiry.

Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2022.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

Restoring Education After COVID

 

COVID Education Gap

The effect COVID had on education has forever changed it.  From delivering instruction remotely to returning back safely, education is now on a new path.  But the same challenges education had prior to COVID are still present to this day, and the education gap created by COVID is the most impactful yet.  This outline illustrates 7 key components that can help in understanding how to develop a plan towards the restoring education after COVID.

1) Education Paused

March 2020.  The order was given that schools would be shutdown and stay at home would be implemented.  At this time it is believed that this would be a temporary measure as the complexity of the virus was just beginning to be known.  Education was paused pending further information.

2) Education Continued

Spring 2020. As it became clearer that the school shutdown and stay at home orders would be in place longer than expected, schools began making preparations to continue education the only way feasible: Remote Learning.  This would help close the school year as reopening plans were prepared over the summer for the next school year.

3) Education Delayed

Summer 2020.  As quickly as reopening plans were designed and modified so did the reality of safely reopening schools changed.  The 2020-21 school year would begin with distance learning in place.  Plans of hybrid models or partial return to school were scraped.  Education would be delayed.

4) Education Loss

ASY 2020-21.  Remote learning is implemented to begin the 2020-21 school year however the model begins to show its limitations in engaging students.  As great a job as teachers did to modify lesson plans it became clear quickly that the return to in-class instruction would be necessary or the loss of education by students would greatly affect their academic development.

5) Education Reset

Summer 2021.  As the school year progresses, and new regulations and mandates with it, it becomes clear that education has reached a point of reset from what it once was.  Unfortunately this reset won't bring everything back to zero or original conditions, but rather serve as a pivot point from which local educational agencies would embark in unique directions.

6) Education Assessment

ASY 2021-22.  With the development and administration of vaccines a turning point is reached in the fight against COVID.  As schools receive students back into the classroom the need to assess student's learning and knowledge must become a priority in order to proceed with the restoration of education.  Data collected from education assessment is necessary to measure how big a gap has been created by COVID as well as knowing how various groups have been impacted.

7) Education Restored

Present Day.  Until standardized testing is administered to provide a full assessment of education, in-class assessments by those who know students best (teachers) can be a valuable tool in the process of restoring the damaged done to student's education.  This will take time and may be the greatest challenge for years to come, but with the full collaboration of all education stakeholders it can be achieved.

Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2021.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

A Safe Return To School in 2021

As September comes to a close educators should make time and look back at the start of the 2021-22 school year.  How are students doing?  Are lesson plans going smoothly?  What adjustments should be made before the winter holidays begin to break-up the educational flow of the year?  It has been a unique start to a school year and hopefully educators are doing their best to ensure an excellent education experience after the challenges of the past year.

Best Practices: Clean & Protect

Sanitation has been the mantra since the onset of the pandemic.  From hand sanitizer being made available, upgrades to aging HVAC systems, personal protective equipment like face masks, gloves, and shields, schools and districts have made it their priority to implement best practices to provide a safe learning environment.

Breakthrough: Vaccines

It is imperative that the development of COVID vaccines be acknowledged as the pivot point in the pandemic.  Development continues now, and will continue in the future, as it is in the nature of the virus to mutate into different variants, and the scientific community must maintain pace in order to prevent further deadly outbreaks.

Be in the Know: Testing

This is one test we can all get behind.  It is the only way to know with great certainty if an individual is infected with COVID.  Results from testing help to alert those who may have been exposed to be observant for possible symptom development.  Schools should be leaders in testing for COVID for the safety and security of all.  Here's to hoping that every test may be a negative one.

Winter Surge: Be Sure

As people take steps to protect themselves from COVID, overconfidence and complacency could become norm.  This would be a dangerous setback to all the work that has been achieved specially as winter arrives and people begin to socialize during the holidays and try to make up for time lost to last year's lockdowns.  Cold, Flu, COVID, which is it?  Symptoms are very similar for all three so it is best to be sure which it is.

Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2021.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

Back To School 2021

 

School is Back!!!

Welcome Back to School.

Schools are now open and ready to kick-off the 2021-22 school year.

After being shut-down for almost a year and a half, schools are ready to welcome back students into their classrooms.  It has been a long time since students have sat next to their classmates, had lunch at the cafeteria, played a pick-up game on the court, or just sat down on the field to talk and hang out.

The dark clouds of smoke that COVID brought in 2020 are beginning to clear up with the help of facemasks, vaccines, and regular testing.  However hot-spots remain, ignited by new variants.  It is our responsibility to remain vigilant of our symptoms and be aware of those around us.

While the possibility of another statewide school shut-down is minimal, it could be possible that at the district and school level it could happen based on exposure.  It is imperative that there be an alternative plan in place for schools and classrooms to execute should the need arise.  It will also be needed for students and staff who test positive and have to quarantine as guided by health and medical recommendations.

Another challenge that education will face is the ever increasing achievement gap expanded by COVID into what may be an abyss of struggling and underperforming students.  Schools will have to make accommodations to address this by implementing various innovating programs that are accessible to students and their families while at the same time ensuring success through accountability.

It will be a long year ahead with challenges along the way that must be identified and solved one step at a time.  But the first step, returning to school, has already been taken.  Just have to keep going.

Welcome Back To School Students.  You were missed.

Manuel R. CortezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2021.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.

Impact of COVID in Education

COVID-19 caused schools to shut down and drastically shift instruction from in-classroom to remote learning.

After one spring, two summers, and an entire school year, it is adequate that pause and reflect on what impact COVID-19 has had on education.

What has been learned about education since the beginning of the shut-down and how can this help schools prepare as they ready to open for the 2021-22 school year as the delta variant emerges as another threat to education?

The primary concern is the long-term effect on student learning and growth.  What will it be? How will it manifest in students? How can educators identify it? What can be done to provide support for students, families, schools and future employers. 

Five key points learned from the effect of COVID-19 in education are:

•  Education MUST GO ON.
•  Distance Learning CAN be implemented successfully.
•  Distance Learning HAS limits.
•  In-Person Classroom Instruction is the MOST effective method for Teaching and Learning.
•  Hybrid Instruction (A mix of In-Person and Distance Learning) COULD become the model for the future of education.

Educators, advocates, and stakeholders in classrooms, schools, and districts should take time to fully understand the benefits/challenges that have been faced since the spring of 2020 in order to prepare for the upcoming school year and beyond.

 

Manuel R. CotezRodas - Educator

Copyright 2021.  MRCR Educational Consulting Firm.  All Rights Reserved.