Denver’s third grade Colorado Student Assessment Program (CSAP) reading scores held steady in 2004 following a significant increase in 2003.

“We are disappointed that we did not see another surge in student achievement,” said Superintendent Jerry Wartgow, “but we are pleased this year’s third graders reached the same achievement level as last year’s third graders. Still, we have a plenty of opportunity to demonstrate improved student achievement from this point forward.”

In all, 54 percent of the district’s third-grade students posted scores that were proficient or advanced on the reading portion of the Colorado Student Assessment Program (CSAP).

Third-grade students were given the reading portion of the CSAP in February. Third-grade CSAP reading score results are reported months ahead of other CSAP results so schools and teachers can meet the terms of the Colorado Basic Literacy Act, which requires individual learning plans for students who are not yet meeting state standards.

This year in DPS, 4,646 third-graders took the reading portion of CSAP. That’s down from 5,064 third-graders in 2003. Another 743 students took Lectura, a Spanish-language version of CSAP. Of those who took Lectura, 58 percent scored proficient or advanced, down from 60 percent proficient or advanced in 2003.

Seventeen schools in the district surpassed or matched the state average. Those included Asbury (86 percent), Bradley (83 percent), Bromwell (96 percent), Carson (83 percent), Cory (85 percent), Edison (75 percent) McKinley-Thatcher (84 percent), Odyssey Charter (77 percent), Palmer (89 percent), Park Hill (74 percent), the Polaris Program at Crofton Elementary School (96 percent), Samuels (75 percent), Slavens (87 percent), Southmoor (88 percent), Steck (86 percent), Teller (87 percent), and Traylor (81 percent).

A few of those schools have high numbers of students who are eligible for free and reduced lunch prices, based on federal poverty guidelines. Those include Bradley (43 percent qualify for free or reduced price lunch), Edison (45 percent), Palmer (49 percent), and Teller (59 percent qualify).

Remington and Ford elementary schools, the two elementary schools in their second year of corrective action based on the federal No Child Left Behind Act, both made significant gains in the percentage of students who performed at levels of proficient or advanced (24 percent and 5 percent increases, respectively).

Chief Academic Officer Sally Mentor Hay noted that implementation of the district’s literacy plan is a multi-year effort that is continuing. The plan started with writing and independent reading and the implementation of guided reading (small group instruction) began just this year.

“Implementation of the district's literacy plan is being done at a pace that allows for the necessary resources and staff training to be in place as each component is introduced to schools,” said Mentor Hay. “Like any successful campaign, this is an effort that requires sustained and organized effort from teachers and students. We saw solid improvements last year and it’s important to note that those gains were sustained by this year’s third-grade students but we need to improve from this point forward, too.”

A complete set of third grade CSAP reading results is accessible online at http://testing.dpsk12.org/rescsap04a.htm. CSAP results for other grade levels and subjects will be released by the Colorado Department of Education later this year.