To the Editor:

Some months ago the NJ Department of Education released the results for the 2012 HSPA exams. While the numbers do indicate a year over year improvement since 2010, Collingswood still falls just short, again, of the state average scores.

Remember readers, “average” is just as close to the bottom as it is to the top. What follows is a side-by-side comparison for the past three years.

(PP = Partially Proficient, P = Proficient, AP = Advanced Proficient)

For anyone who is unfamiliar with this data, the lower that the Partially Proficient number is, the better. Conversely, the higher that the Advanced Proficient number is, the better.

Collingswood students have more Partially Proficient students in Language Arts and Math than the state average; 9.2 versus 8.5 and 22.4 versus 20.7. Proficient scores were just about equal in both testing areas but Advance Proficient Math was well below the state average.

Going strictly by these numbers it would seem that Collingswood High School parents can take some comfort in the fact that their children’s test scores are getting better when measured year over year. But what are these scores better than? If test results are an indicator of the level of teaching (or anything else for that matter) then these numbers would indicate that the quality of the education here in Collingswood is only average.

While there are certainly many variables that weigh into any one individuals aptitude and ability, etc., that all gets washed out in most statistical analysis in a group setting.

In a Sept. 25, 2012, Patch article (“Collingswood Standardized Test Scores Up Districtwide in 2012”) it was reported that Chief Performance Officer Matt Genna claimed that “district scores are improving on a three-year average in both math and language arts. As it stands now, 72 percent of Collingswood students tested proficient in language arts and 79 percent tested proficient in math in 2012.”

It is unclear exactly what source of information Mr. Genna used because according the NJDOE the 2012 CHS Language Arts scores have fluctuated and dropped well below the 2010 average score. The math scores have remained virtually unchanged and are nowhere near the 79 percent level Mr. Genna claimed.

Several other school districts have presented the 2012 HPSA results at their recent board of education meeting (see The Retrospect article on Dec. 14 and others) because the results were favorable, the Collingswood BOE has not.

As noted by the website www.education.com, “Collingswood Senior High School did not make AYP in 2010.” Under No Child Left Behind, a school makes Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) if it achieves the minimum levels of improvement determined by the state of New Jersey in terms of student performance and other accountability measures.

In 2011, Collingswood Senior High School had 17 students for every full-time equivalent teacher. The New Jersey average is 13 students per full-time equivalent teacher.

In addition, the test rating of Collingswood for 2011 is 4 out of 10. This is a number calculated by education.com that provides an overview of a school’s test performance for a given year, by comparing the school’s state standardized test results to those of other schools in the same state. For New Jersey, the TestRating is calculated using a school's 2011 NJ ASK Results and HSPA Results for all subjects tested.

Based on 2011 information, the education level of the teachers themselves appear to be on the rise as noted by the table below, although Collingswood lacks a single teacher with doctoral degree. It should be noted however that overall in New Jersey and nationally the education level of teachers has risen.

There is no single fix, magic pill or wand to wave in order to get Collingswood’s academics to improve. It requires a combination of efforts on the part of the administrators, teachers, students, parents (especially parents) and the community itself.

There is no reason why Collingswood can’t be better academically than what it currently is. The high school is finally lengthening the school day and instituting a modified block schedule starting next year (supposedly). However these aren’t new concepts—they’ve been around for years and Collingswood is playing catch up (just like it is its test scores).

While Superintendent Dr. Scott Oswald, his staff, the BOE and teachers have a thankless and difficult job, it IS nevertheless their job. Improvement, in any endeavor, starts at the top. If you have a mediocre coach/leader, it is very likely that you’ll have a mediocre team.

Parents, your role is perhaps the most vital of all. If you want your child to improve spend the time necessary helping, supporting, encouraging, challenging her/him. Expect your child to get good grades don’t “hope” for it.

2013 HSPA exams start this week but the time to make changes for significant academic improvement doesn’t need to happen once a year.

Joanna Mills
Collingswood

Patch gave schools Superintendent Scott Oswald an opportunity to respond to this letter:

As I always do, I extend an invitation to Ms. Mills or anyone else in Collingswood to come in and see our programs first hand. Our teachers, administrators, and support staff work hard with children every day. We witness both below average, average, and above average children grow every day. I witness teachers working hard—every day—to help better our students both academically and in other areas.

If Ms. Mills wishes to come spend a day with the mediocre leader/coach, I extend that invitation, as well. I hope she can keep up.