Students can practice for math proficiency online

By Emily Richmond (contact)

Thursday, March 10, 2005 | 10:54 a.m.

The Clark County School District took its battle to conquer the state math proficiency exam online Wednesday, unveiling a new Web site that will allow students to practice for the dreaded test and get both instant results and extra help.

"If this helps, I'll be very glad," said Rancho High School senior Roco Fernandez, who along with a dozen classmates demonstrated the new online program at the North Las Vegas campus. "I've taken it (the math proficiency test) three times. I do OK in math. I don't know why I can't pass."

Last year 19 percent of the district's seniors failed to earn regular diplomas solely because they couldn't earn a passing score on the math proficiency exam. In 2003, with the failure rate for seniors at 25 percent, lawmakers voted to lower the passing score for the math proficiency test from 304 to 290. Per the legislation, the passing score increased by three points for the class of 2004 and will continue to climb by several points each year until it returns to 304 in 2007.

Gilbert Diaz, a senior at Rancho who hopes to attend the Community College of Southern Nevada next fall, said mathematics has long been his worst subject. Now it's only a passing score on the proficiency exam that stands between him and the next step toward a career in law enforcement.

"I don't like the test but I don't think they should get rid of it," said Diaz, who is awaiting the results from the February round of the exam, his third attempt. "It's important to know math whether you like it or not."

Created by the district's curriculum and professional development division, the program was piloted by the district's seniors in the fall. Students in grades 10 through 12 will now be able to log on using their district ID numbers and take the practice exam as often as they like.

"The more reassurance students get that they are ready for this exam the better off they're going to be," said Christy Falba, director of curriculum and professional development for the district.

Clark County Schools Superintendent Carlos Garcia said the district has set a goal of having at least 50 percent of its 10th graders pass the math proficiency test when they take it for the first time next month. The first-time pass rate has been slowly climbing thanks to initiatives aimed at getting more students enrolled in algebra by eighth grade and into geometry and upper-level math classes in high school.

"When people tell me this test is easy I tell them, 'Why don't you come and take it and then we'll have that conversation,' " Garcia said. "This is a challenge and I'm proud to say our students, teachers and staff are rising to the occassion."

The district is also launching a campaign to ensure students are in school April 5 when the proficiency tests are next given. Schools that fall short of a minimum attendance rate of 95 percent on that day could be identified as failing to show "adequate yearly progress" under the federal No Child Left Behind Act.

Clark County School Board member Denise Brodsky expressed her delight Wednesday with the new online program.

And while Brodsky agreed with district officials who touted the new program as a benefit for thousands of students, there was one high school junior in particular on Brodsky's mind: her daughter, Julia.

"She missed passing last year by two questions," Brodsky said of her daughter, who attends the Las Vegas Academy magnet high school. "This (the online program) will definitely help her prepare for the next go-round. There will be a lot less tears in our house."