Increasingly, schools are looking to provide the sets of skills needed to prepare students for the demands of an ever-changing world. In a matter of years, areas like technology have advanced so rapidly, educators are exploring new ways in order to keep up, especially through changes to curriculum. In a letter that precedes the La Crescent-Hokah School District Systems Accountability Report, Superintendent David Krenz wrote that he believes the school is prepared to educate students with the future in mind.

“To prepare for change, we need to use the tools we have,” he wrote. “We need to analyze how our students learn and give each student the knowledge to understand how they learn.”

The state and federal governments also keep tabs on the progress of student achievement through standardized testing, such as the Basic Skills Test (BST) and Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment Test (MCA). At the La Crescent-Hokah Board of Education meeting August 20, curriculum director Julie Beddow-Schubert brought the board up-to-speed on the results of last year’s tests, where the district stands in comparisons to others in the area, and how it matches up state-wide.

The Accountability Report is brought forward yearly, and is a summary of the last year’s curriculum and achievement, which most notably includes district testing scores. It’s a state-mandated report that gives updates on math and reading scores, and is available for the public to study on the school’s website, www.isd300.k12.mn.us.

Beddow-Schubert began by explaining each school’s (elementary, middle, and high) MCA II proficiency standards, which she said were above average in all aspects throughout the district, including Bluff Country Learning Options, which has its numbers embedded in the data.

In math, for example, 71 percent of elementary school students either met or exceeded standards in math, and 78 percent did so in reading. At the middle school level, 65 percent met or exceeded math standards, and 76 percent achieved proficient reading levels. In high school, 37 percent met designated math levels and 77 did so in reading. And although data wasn’t available at the meeting, Beddow-Schubert told the board La Crescent-Hokah students significantly outperform students around the state in science.

In high school, 45 percent did not meet standards in math, but Beddow-Schubert explained that students are still making progress, but because they aren’t keeping up with lofty expectations of the federal government’s No Child Left Behind standards, it appears as if nearly half aren’t proficient. However, on average, La Crescent-Hokah outpaces other schools in the state by 11 percent in that category.

“When you hear, ‘Failing to make Adequate Yearly Progress,’ what really is happening is districts aren’t growing at the same rate as what the state has set,” she said. “We have demonstrated growth every single year since the inception of No Child Left Behind, and this past year is no different whatsoever.”

As is the case in past years, La Crescent-Hokah’s special education subgroup was labeled as “underperforming,” which is attributed to the fact that the school accommodates students from around the region with some of the most severe cognitive disabilities, which by definition, are those who won’t grow at the same rate as the general population, Beddow-Schubert said. However growth has still been significant, she added.

Half the school in Minnesota didn’t make Adequate Yearly Progress in some category or another, and Beddow-Schubert said this year’s tests are accompanied by a significant increase in proficiency standards.

Last year, 98 students took the ACT test, which measures comprehension in English, math, reading, and science. In each subject, La Crescent-Hokah was ahead of the state curve with a composite of 23.5, compared to the state average of 22.6.

Softball trip

At the meeting, the board gave its blessings to La Crescent softball coach Deb Trynowski, on her plans to organize a trip for players in the spring. Trynowski’s former college coach, Linda Wells, has invited and will host the Lancers March 26-29 in Phoenix, Ariz. She explained, the Lancers varsity softball team has 11 seniors this year who have significant opportunity to play in college, and Wells has the ability to make phone calls to schools the players are interested in, which could result in scholarship money.

“I’m very passionate about that because it changed my life, and I want to be able to give some of those kids the opportunity,” she said.

Though specific details haven’t been finalized, the idea is to fly to Arizona Thursday, March 26 and arrive home the following Sunday. Only one day of school would be missed, because students aren’t in class that Friday. While there, the Lancers would open its season with a doubleheader against an Arizona high school Friday, then play another doubleheader the next day against a different team. While there, the team may also tour Arizona State University and University of Phoenix Stadium, home of the NFL’s Arizona Cardinals.

The cost of the trip will be paid totally through fundraising and there’d be no cost to the school district. Each player who goes on the trip needs to meet the school’s and Minnesota State High School League’s academic eligibility requirement. Criteria are in place for players who are eligible to go on the trip, and for those who might not otherwise be able to go because of financial concerns, Trynowski said.

Board member Kent Summerfield said he appreciates the energy Trynowski put in to organizing the trip, and Ruth Nissen said she sees this as an opportunity to broaden the students’ horizon. The board unanimously passed a motion for Trynowski to move forward with plans, pending all criteria is met.