Dismal Science

Here's a reality check on the state of Illinois' schools in the area of science. Tribune:

About 70 percent of Illinois 4th and 8th graders lack basic knowledge in the physical, life and earth sciences, according to national test results released Wednesday.

The lackluster performance of state students on the 2005 National Assessment of Educational Progress science exam was a slight decline from the 2000 results.

The results showed that 29 percent of 4th graders demonstrated proficiency in science, compared with 34 percent five years earlier. Thirty percent of the state's 8th graders met standards last year, compared with 32 percent five years ago.

Illinois students performed slightly worse than their counterparts across the nation on the test, the only exam taken by a sampling of students in virtually every state.

The Illinois scores on the rigorous national exam stand in stark contrast to performance on the easier state science exam. Last year, nearly three-quarters of Illinois 4th and 7th graders passed the state science exam.

Ginger Reynolds, assistant superintendent for teaching and learning for the Illinois State Board of Education, cautioned against reading too much into the national test results.

"The results are important and we will look closely at them," she said. "But our focus is on the state test because we know that teachers align their curricula to the state exams. The state test results show that our schools are teaching according to the learning standards that we have adopted as a state."

The lower standards of the state test, and the complacent response of the Illinois State Board of Ed do not inspire confidence in Governor Blagojevich's proposed state takeover of underperforming schools.

A better, proven approach is to allow students in failing schools to have the choice to attend charter or private schools geared to addressing these academic deficiencies. You would have faster results and more accountability, as those schools who did not measure up would suffer declines in enrollment.

And parents and students who do not have the luxury of waiting years for the CPS and other schools to improve, would have an immediate response to their educational concerns.