An examination of scores from Dakota STEP testing released by the South Dakota Department of Education earlier this year is showing the large number of English as a Second Language Learners in the Huron School District are NOT holding back the education of those who speak English fluently. Director of Assessments Gay Pickner assembled the numbers for the Huron School Board Tuesday, comparing them to other Double-A schools. Superintendent Terry Nebelsick says the score numbers are from grades three, eight and eleven…
The 11th grade STEP test number for Huron show 156 students of which, 26-percent are ELL and 40-percent are economically disadvantaged. Picker says comparing Huron’s GAP numbers to other larger district’s isn’t an equal comparison…(because Huron’s GAP figures are so large.)
School Board vice-chair David Wheeler says the numbers should answer questions for parents concerned about the quality of the education their children are getting…
Huron’s GAP student scores are 29-percent in math, 28-percent in reading and 23-percent in science. Nebelsick says those scores should climb in the next few years…
Statewide GAP student scores are averaging 44 to 55-percent in mathematics, 47 to 60-percent in reading and 46 to 56-percent in science.