State Education Assessments Show Students Suffered In All Grades, Subjects

The newly published state assessment data shows students across the board suffered during the pandemic. 

This is the first statewide assessment of K-12 students since the pandemic brought disruption to the school system in March of 2020. 

Every grade and every content level tested below where they were expected to be -- making it clear that no student got through the pandemic without harm. 

Results show that students scored lower overall in math, English language arts, and science. 

Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister said the state assessment data can be used by districts to ensure they’re meeting the needs of all students. 

“We want to do everything that we can to put a fine focus on why a student is not meeting the particular grade level expectation, but meet kids right where they are, and never give up,” Hofmeister said. 

The state is concerned that districts could overlook students with the greatest needs.

Included are children with disabilities, English language learners, and economically disadvantaged students. 

One of the first issues districts will have to work out is-- who actually sat for the test, and who didn’t. 

The state said it usually tests almost 100% of students. 

This year – 91% took the test.

State Deputy Superintendent of Assessment & Accountability Maria Cammack said this makes the information less reliable at face value.  

“This is why it’s so important that schools and districts interrogate their own data. We cannot make claims or draw inferences from state level data. We can tell the what, but we are trying to help districts explain the why,” Cammack said. 

Oklahoma is one of the first states to get summative test results completed and released.