S.C. making progress in achieving education goals, but not keeping pace
By SCOTT POWELL Ledger Staff Writer spowell@gaffneyledger.com

Student achievement in South Carolina is not keeping pace with other states, but students are making progress towards a 2010 goal of being ranked among the five fastest-improving education systems in the country.

The Education Oversight Committee (EOC) established this goal in 1999. Another goal aims for student achievement in South Carolina to be ranked in the top half of 50 states nationally.

A recent EOC report shows the state has made progress towards meeting these goals since the school accountability system was put into place.

South Carolina ranked among the five fastestimproving states in science on the National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP). A seven-year improvement in fourth grade math scores on NAEP is the sixth-largest jump nationwide.

The improvement in South Carolina isn't keeping pace with progress being made in other states.

SAT scores have increased 31 points statewide over the past decade. South Carolina still ranks 48th nationally in SAT scores.

Fourth grade reading scores on NAEP slipped from 41st nationally in 2005 to 42nd this year. Eighth grade reading scores declined from a 39th to 41th national ranking over the same period of time.

"The bottom line is that we're not improving fast enough to change our relative standing with other states and outpace the competition here in the U.S. and around the world," state Superintendent of Education Jim Rex said.

A task force appointed by Rex is expected to present more specific recommendations in a report to state lawmakers in January. Those recommendations could include reducing the amount of student testing and changes in the Palmetto Achievement Challenge Test used to rate elementary and middle schools.

A common criticism of PACT from educators is the test provides little information on the strengths and weaknesses of students to help improve school instruction.

School accountability is one of the education issues that state lawmakers will discuss during the 2008 legislative session, state Senate Majority Harvey Peeler (R-Gaffney) said.

"I think it's important to hold schools accountable. It needs to be a fair system so we can see whether schools are making progress each year," Peeler said. "One of my concerns is that some teachers might be teaching to the test instead of focusing on the total child's education."

PACT and high school exit exam scores are used to determine school report card ratings under the state's Education Accountability Act. Graduation rates are also used to rate high schools. There were 443 schools statewide that received Below Average and Unsatisfactory report card ratings this year, including 10 Cherokee County schools.

A EOC study found only 6 percent of schools received lower ratings because of more rigorous accountability requirements, EOC communications director Dana Yow said.

"The fall in a school's rating was due to a decrease in student achievement," Yow said.