School district optimistic following rise in standardized testing scores

Third grade reading scores have been a frequent topic of discussion for Sarasota’s school district. 

The standardized testing data for the 2023-24 school year, recently released by the Florida Department of Education, has district officials pleased. 

Most notably, Sarasota’s scores in English Language Arts rank second highest in the state for the third grade, moving up from fourth in 2023, while improvements were also seen in other areas. 

The final data, which will include only those students present in the district since October, is still pending release, anticipated by the district for late July. 

When available, that data will determine district and school grades. Sarasota’s district has consistently maintained an “A” grade since 2004. 

A positive step

As of the 2022-23 school year, the Florida Assessment of Student Thinking replaced the former Florida Standards Assessment test. 

Compared to this past year, third grade reading scores for students at Achievement Level 3 or above jumped 7%, moving from 61% to 68%.

A table assembled by Sarasota County Schools indicated a 6 percentage point increase, with 2023 scores modified to reflect new cut scores approved by Florida’s State Board of Education in 2023. The cut scores established new achievement level standards.

Level 3 indicates that a student performed on-grade across all assessments. 

Department of Education documents noted that in English Language Arts, greater improvements were seen across elementary grade levels than middle and high school grade levels.

For instance, statewide over the course of the 2023-24 school year, third grade performance improved by 31%, sixth grade performance improved over that time by 11%. 

Sarasota ranks 13th highest of the state’s 82 districts in the number of students scoring at Level 3 or above, from Grades 3-10, in English Language Arts, at 61%.

Sarasota ranks 12th highest in the number of students scoring at Level 3 in mathematics, from grades 3-8, at 66%.

School Board Chair Karen Rose said she was excited to see the increase in the third grade scores for English Language Arts. 

According to Rose, the third grade reading scores involve the “nucleus where everything moves out from.”

“If you can read at grade level at third grade, your probability of success in all subject areas through 12th grade increases significantly,” she said. 

She said this development was welcome after several years during which the improvement of the district was stagnant. 

“We were doing what I call flatlining, and so to get a seven-point growth and move up to second highest in the state is huge,” she said. “It’s challenging to grow third grade reading one point or two points.”

She said there was still progress to be made. 

“We still have a lot of work to do, but I’m celebrating what our schools have been able to accomplish, the work our teachers have done and the leadership that superintendent Connor and his district team have provided.”

School board member Tom Edwards said the progress was in line with the district’s initiatives, calling it “right on track, as far as I can tell.” 

He said the COVID-19 pandemic had been a major contributor in the past decline in scores across the state and nation, noting teachers and bus drivers who were out sick, as well as students undergoing remote learning and quarantines.

“It was pandemonium, and I think people forget that, and that through leadership, and through our teachers, they’ve been able to — with the right plans in place — been able to rise to the occasion. We have the best; the best people. The very best people, following excellent plans.”

He called the scores a credit to administrators, the district’s teachers and any parents who were able to offer support.

“I think it’s a team effort,” he said. “I think that the foundation was laid during (Superintendent Dr. Brennan Asplen). It was continued through the interim period, particularly with our chief administrative officer, Chris Renouf, and then with our high-quality instructional teaching staff. It was all a handoff from my tenure of Dr. Asplen through, and then as I said before, (Superintendent Terry Connor) added a sense of urgency when he got here, and it really all came together.”

He said with “solid leadership” in the superintendent’s office, he looks forward to a continued rise in scores. 

In a written statement, Connor also remarked on the scores. 

"I am incredibly proud of the dedication and hard work demonstrated by our students, teachers, staff, administrators, and families throughout this school year," he wrote. "Their tenacity and collaborative efforts have significantly improved our state assessment results in every area. This achievement is a testament to our community's investment in public education and the collective dedication to our shared vision for academic excellence in Sarasota County. Together, we have set a new standard for success, and I look forward to building on this momentum in the future."