TAKS report

Tri-Ethnic Committee members heard a report on TAKS scores Thursday particularly focused on ethnic differences between the scores and school completion rates.

Members learned that there's still a TAKS score gap between ethnic subgroups, though it improved last school year. However, the ethnic gap in the number of students completing high school is a significant problem that could result in unacceptable ratings for the 2008-'09 school year, said Wendy Hines, assistant superintendent for elementary operations.

ECISD saw gains in some TAKS areas, particularly in the eighth grade, part of the student success initiative requiring students to pass in order to go up to the next grade. In writing tests, ECISD did well. Sixth-grade scores were high in reading, even beating the state scores with 94 percent passing compared to 91 percent at the state level. In a few cases like that, the district actually exceeded state averages, but many times, the district did at least close the gap. Hines said Murry Fly Elementary saw gains nearly across the board.

However, Hines pointed out problems remain. Noel Elementary had a significant score drop, formerly being ranked sixth in the district during 2007 and falling to 23rd in 2008. Also, the district still has a gap in the completion rate between whites and Hispanics as well as blacks. For example, in Ector County, only 63 percent of blacks completed high school compared to 81 percent at the state level. The gap between the white and black completion rate is 18.7 percent, more than the 11.1 percent at the state level. The state requires a 75 percent completion rate in order to remain academically acceptable.

"This is our issue - if we don't fix this, we will be unacceptable," Hines said.

In other action, the Tri-Ethnic Committee voted in a new chairwoman, Dr. Tara Deaver. Members voted former secretary Carol Arndt to serve as vice-chair and former chair Yolanda Ramirez to serve as the new secretary.

Gene Collins raised concerns about zero-tolerance for a second-grade student at Hays Elementary suspended and then sent to Gale Pond/Alamo for 12 days due to bringing a knife to school. Collins said the student meant no harm. The committee decided to take a look at the student code of conduct in the future to see if anything could be amended to allow for greater flexibility while still complying with state law.