The New York State Report Card has arrived and the OBEN Board of Education reviewed it at its March 2 meeting. The New York State Report Card is an important part of the Board of Regents' effort to raise learning standards for all students. The State Report Card details student's academic performance on established state tests, and provides school attendance, suspension and drop-out rates over a three-year period. It also compares our results with (1) schools that are similar; (2) the school district, and (3) public schools statewide.

In his opening remarks, Dr. Banta informed the public that the report is intended to give information about student performance and that the results of the OB-EN Report Card, shows considerable progress from the work done one year ago. This district compares very favorably to similar school districts with which the state education department compares us. The term "similar schools," refers to schools that teach comparable grade levels, school district wealth and the needs of the school student population with regard to eligibility for the free lunch program, as well as those who may be classified as Limited English Proficient. Residents should consider that the most similar school is the school itself, and that is why three years of performance are presented.

Following Dr. Banta's comments, Roosevelt School Principal Dennis Moller, Vernon School Principal Martin Malone, Oyster Bay High School Assistant Principal Frank Imperiale and Director of Special Services Michele Davis, shared information in the Report Card on each of their schools and the students receiving special education services.

The grade 3 reading test performance for last year (99 percent passing), was the highest percentage ever achieved for that school and above both similar and all public schools. The grade 4 science test, contains two parts: an objective part and a manipulative skills part. The average pupil score for each part of the test was slightly below similar schools and higher for all public schools.

On the grade 5 writing test, (100 percent passing for 1996-97) grade 6 math (100 percent passing), grade 6 social studies and grade 8 social studies tests, our students performed as well as or above similar schools and above all other public schools.

The grade 6 reading scores (92 percent passing) showed an improvement over the previous two years of testing. The scores were not as high as similar schools, but well above all other public schools. Extra assistance in the form of before and after school tutorials and summer school efforts, helped improve scores. This matter continues to need attention in terms of increasing scores at the "distinction" or superior level.

In grade 8, of those students in accelerated math classes who took the sequential math Regents exam, 100 percent passed and 100 passed with distinction (achieving 85 percent or highter). There were similar results for earth science with 100 percent passing and 84 percent achieving distinction.

At the high school, the percentage of Regents diplomas awarded has increased. In June 1997, 62 percent of students received Regents diplomas, which was higher than both the similar schools and all public schools levels. This figure represents the highest total that has ever been achieved in the school district, and reflects successful attention to challenging the students to meet the higher expectations that have been set by the board of education.

Additionally, in eight Regents examinations (Biology, Chemistry, Global Studies, US History and Government, English, Second Languages, Sequential Math I and III) our students scored higher in all eight exams compared with similar and all public schools. In terms of the distinction scores, the students exceeded similar schools in Sequential Math I, Sequential Math III and US History and Government. They were tied in Biology and had lower scores at the distinction level in English, Chemistry and Second Languages.

Areas requiring further attention, include the suspension rate at the high school, increasing the number of scores above 85 percent and the grade 6 reading performance.

Copies of the New York State School Report Card for all three schools, are available at the OB-EN Public Library and at the Administration Building on McCoun's Lane.

The Albany Report Cards are going to be the focus of a great deal of discussion in the district. I hope you will all take the time to consider the figures and put them into some perspective for yourself. The rush to excellence started at the top as President Bill Clinton asked the country to improve their educational outlook. It is continuing as NYS Commissioner of Education Richard Mills tries to make changes he considers important.

The process is beginning. It's not an easy chore. After all, the scariest job in the world is that of parenting a child. That is what makes the whole issue of education such a controversial one. Bringing up a child is probably the most important thing any of us will ever do.