Two York County schools among tops in Pa.

Aug 20, 2009 (The York Dispatch - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- EAYO | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- Two York County school districts are among 50 in the state that have made the most gains in state tests in recent years, according to an announcement made by Gov. Ed Rendell as part of a recognition of the state's overall test achievement.

South Eastern and Eastern York school districts had some of the best gains in fourth, eighth and 11th grades from 2002 to 2008 on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment, placing them in the top 50 out of 500 districts.

The distinction was noted as part of a study by the national Center on Education Policy, a nonprofit group that conducted a nationwide study of standardized test results. Pennsylvania was the only state in 2002-08 to show gains in those three grades in both reading and math, according to the study.

Rendell and comedian Bill Cosby, who is also an education advocate, gave speeches on Wednesday honoring the 50 districts and the entire state for its progress. Rendell used the opportunity as a means to argue that his increases in education funding are paying dividends and need to be continued in this year's budget.

Closer look: Fourth-graders did not take the PSSA in 2002, so the study used fifth-grader results in Pennsylvania instead.

For fifth-grade, eighth- and 11th-grade PSSA scores in 2002 and 2008, Eastern and South Eastern made double-digit gains almost across the board by increasing the number of students who are proficient in reading and math.

Demonstrating proficiency means the student

can do work expected of someone in that grade level and is the standard schools must meet under the No Child Left Behind law.

The study showed both districts made overall about a 22 percent gain in student proficiency in reading and math. Susquehanna Community School District in Susquehanna County made the biggest gains in proficiency, with a 34 percent increase.

Eastern York Superintendent Darla Pianowski said her district's improvements are in part the result of an increased focus on giving teachers time to study data about each student.

Eastern also does more in-house assessments to track student progress, and gives more tutoring to struggling students during the school day, she said.

"We're beginning to see the results," Pianowski said of recent changes.

South Eastern Superintendent Tracy Shank could not be reached for comment.

District-by-district results for the 2009 PSSA exams will be available by mid-September.

-- Reach Andrew Shaw at 505-5431, ashaw@york dispatch.com or twitter.com/ydblogwork.

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