Accountability in education has been a buzz word for both presidential candidates. One of the ways Texas Gov. George W. Bush advocated the concept in his home state was to implement the Texas Academic Assessment Scores test, which in one round of testing gave schools a grade on how they were doing. Results of the test determined the amounts of state funding to each grade level. To give the Garden City school district a report card on its progress isn't as easy a task. But Julie Ford, director of instruction, presented reams of information to the board on how the district assesses itself in reading.
Garden City uses three state tests and two national tests.
The testing and results analysis is only part of the assessment process, Ford said. Another key ingredient is how the teachers respond to test scores and how they improve students. After bringing out the overhead projectors and charts, Ford detailed how the district was doing in several categories. An area that needs improvement is between the fourth and sixth grades, Ford said. Superintendent Milt Pippenger said Garden City isn't alone in facing this kind of dip in achievement.