School Board Members React to TCAP Report for Hamilton County

CHATTANOOGA, TN (WDEF-TV) – The Hamilton county department of education is still digesting figures released by state education officials.
Overall, the scores fell in Hamilton county as measured by the Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program.
Here’s how school board members reacted to the news.

RHONDA THURMAN, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER "The other large counties received a 5…and we received a 1. I think this is all the more reason we need to completely look at how we’re doing things here in Hamilton county."

The report card measured student proficiency in all the major subjects–in all of the grades— and reported what some thought were confusing numbers

DONNA HORN, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER "How can we be doing so much better in science and social studies than reading when science and social studies is reading?

Compared to last year, local students took a step backward in subjects like biology and English, while showing improvement in math. There may be some glitches in how progress is measured, but the district will have to live them.

RICK SMITH, HCDE SUPERINTENDENT "We are not pleased about it. It’s also not new information….this is information we shared with you back in August."

GEORGE RICKS, SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER "There’s no way we can just say its not happening….it is happening….a reality."

Superintendent Smith says the district is working to address the two areas of growth and achievement

KARITSA MOSLEY ,SCHOOL BOARD MEMBER "John Q.Public is not going to know the difference betweem growth and achievement, unless we break that down to layman’s terms for them."

The study also measured graduation rates and Hamilton county rated 85.4.
That’s better than last year, but below the state average of 87.8 percent.
Smith says there was another factor that may have impacted the numbers this year.

RICK SMITH, SUPERINTENDENT "They are one year scores..up to this point. We’ve had 3 year averages…we’re faced with a one year scoring measure."