New analysis plan for student testing proposed

Terry Webster

Friday, Nov. 9, 2001 | 9:28 a.m.

Clark County School Board members Thursday received a preview of a plan being designed to study testing data and raise student achievement.

"I believe it will be the most advanced plan in the country," said Superintendent Carlos Garcia.

The detailed version of the plan will be revealed at an upcoming board meeting, he added.

Judy Costa, director of testing for the district, said the plan will hold schools more accountable for the performance of all students.

Test data, she said, will be examined in every conceivable way, such as race, socio-economic background, English proficiency and special education students.

"We will be able to look at individual students as they progress from grade to grade," Costa said.

Another push, officials said, will be to increase the opportunity for all students to gain access to more advanced classes. One part of that is having all students take algebra by eighth grade. Within three years, the district hopes to have 90 percent of all eighth graders in algebra classes.