Superintendent Addresses Test Scores

Written by Chris Boyle.

Massapequa Superintendent Lucille F. Iconis addressed lower student testing scores at Thursday's Board of Education meeting.

The scores are tied to the adoption of the new Common Core learning standards in conjunction with recent state assessment testing. The results of the testing, which covered Engish Language Arts (ELA) and Math assessment tests for grades three-eight, were something that the district was anticipating for a number of reasons, according to Iconis. 

“As promised, and as anticipated, our scores are significantly lower than they have been in years past...this is not just a Massapequa phenomenon...it’s a phenomenon across Long Island and across the state,” Iconis said. “But you can not compare last year’s tests to this year’s test, because they’re apples and oranges....this year’s test used the New York State Common Core learning standards.” 

Third grade English, for example, showed 50 percent proficiency, while 60.1 percent of eighth graders were deemed proficient. Math scores ranged from 41.4 percent proficiency for third graders to 61.8 percent for eighth graders.

Despite the overall drop in scores across the state, Iconis was quick to point out that Massapequa was still among the highest-scoring school districts. 

“On all measures, our children scored above the Nassau County average,” Iconis said. “We are very proud of that...our teachers and children have worked very, hard when preparing for the testing.” 

However, Iconis did not take umbrage with the new, more rigorous Common Core standards, but in the way they were implemented. Overall, she said that the idea behind the Common Core standards is that of a sound educational tool. 

“Whatever our feeling about those standards, what they will do for us is raise the rigor and put our children in a better position for success in college and careers,” Iconis said. “We are behind this 100 percent, but some of us in this room feel that the way that the New York state testing program was rolled out isn’t something that we approve of. Things were rolled in a piecemeal fashion, but even with that, the objective of these standards is very worthwhile.” 

After Iconis spoke, new Board of Education President Gary Bennett took a moment to tout Massapequa as a high-performing school district, and said that they would the changes necessary to remain as such. 

“We have been federally recognized as having some of the best College Board scores not only in New York State, but across the nation,” Bennett said. “That speaks well of both our faculty and our administration.” 

Later in the meeting, Iconis noted that the Board will be holding a public work session on Oct. 8 at 7 p.m. to discuss the many issues surrounding recent changes to state assessment testing, and encouraged the community to attend. 

“We thank you for you input, and we welcome it,” she said.