To no one’s surprise, spring state assessment data released Wednesday showed a stunning decline in performance, underscored by unprecedented low pass rates in Lake County’s urban districts and charter schools.
Secretary of Education Katie Jenner told the State Board of Education the data confirmed what everyone already knew — months of remote learning or returning to schools in COVID-19 pandemic conditions accounted for a staggering academic setback.
“This data cannot be an indictment on anyone, on anything, on any school,” Jenner told the State Board of Education Wednesday. “The reality is, all of us had a global pandemic.”
Statewide, less than one-third of elementary and middle school students recorded passing scores.
Only 28.6% of Indiana students in grades 3-8 tested proficient in both English and math, a drop from 37.1% the first time the test was administered in 2019.
Lawmakers decided earlier this year the 2021 ILEARN assessment wouldn’t count against schools or teachers’ evaluations because of the pandemic.
The anticipated low pass rates were more acute in urban districts where learning gaps widened between poor students in minority-dominated schools and white students in wealthier districts.
Just 8% of Black students in Indiana passed both the English and math sections, compared with 46.5% of Asian students, 34.7% of white students, and 15.6% Hispanic students.
Locally, 1.2% of students in the Gary Community School Corp. passed both the math and English portion of the ILEARN. Gary Lighthouse Charter posted a 1.2% pass rate and Gary’s Thea Bowman Academy had a 1.3% pass rate.
In Munster, 50.4% passed both sections.
In East Chicago, 2.5% passed both and 4.3% passed both in Hammond.
In Porter County, Valparaiso and East Porter County school districts posted top pass rates of 47.4% each.
Because of pandemic-closures, the ILEARN wasn’t given in 2020.
“The pandemic really took a toll on us,” Lake Station Superintendent Thomas Cripliver said. His district saw 10.5% of its students in grades 3-8 pass both math and English.
“We will be doubling down on our efforts to make up for the learning loss, but it will take time. We will get back on track.”
Education officials said it wasn’t fair to compare Wednesday’s results with 2019. Instead, Jenner said schools should use the results to plan a recovery effort.
“This data establishes a new baseline for us as a state,” Jenner said. “These are not problems that anyone can fix overnight. This is going to take an extended effort just to get us back to where we were.”
Paige McNulty, manager of Gary schools, welcomed federal funding.
“Thanks to federal funds, we have been able to address some of the academic gaps caused by virtual learning through our summer school program and look forward to introducing a robust K-12 curriculum and an expanded day of instruction when school starts Aug. 10,” she said. “It is our goal that test scores will increase as a result of the comprehensive efforts we are putting forth.”
Indiana’s Education Department last month began issuing $122 million in grants to enhance summer learning programs to get students back on track as soon as possible, providing academic and social emotional support for students.
The grants are part of $150 million in state funding the Indiana General Assembly set aside to address learning loss earlier this year.
Schools are also receiving stimulus funding from the federal government to increase academic recovery.
To learn more, visit: in.gov/doe/it/data-center-and-reports/
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
ILEARN grades 3-8 NWI district math/English passing rates*
Lake County
Hanover Community 37.5%
River Forest 11.6%
Merrillville 17.5%
Lake Central 34.3%
Tri-Creek 38.5%
Lake Ridge 7.2%
Crown Point 42.4%
East Chicago 2.5%
Lake Station 10.5%
Gary 1.2%
Griffith 20.4%
Hammond 4.3%
Highland 28.2%
Hobart 23.2%
Munster 50.4%
Whiting 13.3%
Porter County
MSD Boone Township 30.6%
Duneland 40.2%
East Porter 47.4%
Porter Township 26.4%
Union Township 42.4%
Portage Township 19.6%
Valparaiso 47.4%
Charter/private
Diocese of Gary 36%
Discovery Charter 31.9%
Thea Bowman 1.3%
Gary Lighthouse 1.2%
21st Century 1.5%
East Chicago Urban Enterprise 5.2%
East Chicago Lighthouse 3.7%
Aspire Academy 6.2%
Hammond Academy for Science & Technology 15.9%
Steel City 4.3%
Higher Institute of Arts & Technology 4.8%
*Indiana Department of Education