Keeping score: Provo District says focus on competency lifted scores

PROVO — The Provo School District should draw a big share of attention over the next six months as Utah educators consider Gov. Mike Leavitt's mandate to adopt a new system based on student competency.

The district began to implement competency-based measures five years ago. Students now have to meet benchmarks to move through the grades, acting superintendent Randy Merrill said.

Merrill said the move has had a direct impact on improved test scores in the district.

"We've seen a remarkable rise in our reading scores," he said. "We have some of the highest scorers in the state in the core test because we have focused on reading competency."

Nearly 56 percent of Provo students placed in the reading mastery category on the state core test in 2002. Just under 46 percent of students statewide finished in that category.

Add the students who scored in the near-mastery range — good enough to move on to the next grade without help — and Provo had 85 percent of its students reading at the level they should versus 77 percent statewide.

The achievement is more remarkable, Merrill said, because the district has four Title I schools — Franklin, Joaquin, Spring Creek and Timpanogos elementaries — and all four finished above the state average. Title I schools are those identified as requiring federal assistance because they have a large number of students from low-income families.

Deseret News graphic Provo Test Scores Requires Adobe Acrobat.

Between 75 and 80 percent of students in Provo's Title I schools are from low-income homes, said Ted Kelly, director of special programs. The other similarity between the schools is that they are all in central Provo. Many students arrive in the schools from Spanish-speaking countries, without any English skills.

"Provo is developing an inner city," Kelly said. "It's not a negative. What we're learning culturally and in teaching is making us a better school district."

Leavitt called for competency-based education statewide in his State of the State address on Jan. 21. Provo officials believe the new emphasis has proven helpful.