TAKS gains

ECISD fifth- and eighth-graders made at least 2 percentage point gains on the reading portion of the Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills test earlier this month.

Eighty-one percent of fifth-graders passed the reading test, while 88 percent of eighth-graders passed.

While there were gains, ECISD students still haven't quite reached the same passing rate as their counterparts across the state.

Ector County Independent School District officials released percentages Wednesday from the March administration of the reading test, which third-, fifth- and eighth-graders must pass to move on to the following grade level.

The Texas Education Agency released state percentages for third, fifth and eighth grades Tuesday.

In addition to passing reading, fifth- and eighth-graders also have to pass the math tests to move on to the next grade under the Student Success Initiative. This is the first year for eighth-graders to have to pass reading to be promoted.

Steve Brown, assistant superintendent for secondary education, said for eighth-graders to bump up their reading scores from 83 percent passing last year to 88 percent passing this year showed the students were centered on accelerating to the next grade level.

"It illustrates the focus and determination of the students," Brown said.

At the state level, 92 percent of eighth-graders passed the reading test while 89 passed in 2007.

Some students in eighth-grade in ECISD this year who didn't pass the test have been identified for intervention groups of no more than 10 students each for additional tutoring during instruction time or after school, Brown said.

The same type of intervention is being offered for third- and fifth-graders who failed the reading tests on the first try, said Wendy Hines, assistant superintendent for elementary education.

"That gives a child more help where they need the help," she said.

In third grade, 86 percent of students passed the reading portion compared with last year's 88 percent. At the state level, 88 percent of third-graders passed the reading test while 89 percent passed in 2007.

Hines said the 2 percentage point drop in third-grade reading scores may be due to the previous ECISD administration taking away the district's reading program at the campuses the previous two years.

Those students' reading preparation may not be as strong as present fifth- and eighth-graders, she said.

Third-graders currently have an early reading intervention program, which was placed back in ECISD this year, she said.

For Odessa's fifth-grade students, 81 percent passed while 79 percent passed in 2007. At the state level, 83 percent of fifth-graders passed the test while 82 percent passed in 2007.

The 12 percent of third-graders who failed the TAKS reading test and the 17 percent of fifth-graders who failed also will have two more opportunities to pass - in April and July. Third-graders only have to pass the reading portion of the TAKS, while fifth-graders must pass in reading and math.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

ETHNIC SUBGROUP BREAKDOWN OF PASSING SCORES FOR READING BY GRADE LEVEL:

THIRD GRADE

>> Native American: 92 percent.

>> Asian-American: 100 percent.

>> Black: 84 percent.

>> Hispanic: 83 percent.

>> White: 90 percent.

>> Economically disadvantaged: 81 percent.

FIFTH GRADE

>>  Native American: 89 percent.

>> Asian-American:  100 percent.

>> Black: 69 percent.

>> Hispanic: 77 percent.

>> White: 90 percent.

>> Economically disadvantaged: 75 percent.

EIGHTH GRADE

>> Native American: 100  percent.

>> Asian-American: 92 percent.

>> Black: 87 percent.

>> Hispanic: 87 percent.

>> White: 91 percent.

>> Economically disadvantaged: 84 percent.