OXFORD – Elementary and middle school pupils are maintaining or exceeding state reading standards and making significant growth in math, according to Kathy Elkins, curriculum director.

Hebron and Paris elementary school pupils met or exceeded state average in all grade levels in reading. The state average score is a higher grade than the state standard score.

Elkins detailed the 2006-2007 Maine Educational Assessment scores for grades three through eight in reading and math this week to the Board of Directors.

“Overall there’s a positive trend,” said Elkins of the test results.

In 2002, President George Bush signed an education law called No Child Left Behind, which has a long-range goal of every child being proficient in core areas of study according to state standards. The Maine Educational Assessment measures a student’s proficiency against Maine’s standards detailed in Maine Learning Results.

This year for the first time, educators had two sets of scores to work with: a cohort group score, which is the same group of pupils who took the MEAs for the past two years; and the same grade group, which are different pupils who took the MEAs at the same grade level. This same grade group may include pupils who moved in from another district or state and may have significantly different testing standards or curriculum exposure.

When comparing progress of the cohort group of pupils who took MEA grades from 2006 to 2007, each grade level showed at least a year’s growth or more in reading and math except grade seven pupils in math, Elkins said.

“The important thing is to look at the cohort group. They’re the ones who actually experienced our curriculum and went through our educational process,” said Elkins of the pupils in the cohort group.

In grade six, for example, the district cohort scores had a two point increase in reading. The same grade scores were flat while the state scores increased by two points.

In grade five, Elkins said the district cohort scores show a one point gain while the state cohort scores were flat. The same grade scores showed a one point gain by the district and no gain by the state. The average scaled scores showed the pupils are above state reading standard but below state average. Scale scores range from 300 to 380. The scaled score is the average within that range, Elkins said.

“We need to keep doing what we’re doing,” said Superintendent Mark Eastman. “I like the initial trends. The trends are looking positive.”

Elkins said the district will continue to use literacy and math coaches and other interventions to reach the district goal that pupils will meet or exceed state averages in literacy and math in grades three, four, five, six, seven and eight, and the SAT scores in grade 11 by 2008.

“Were can’t just make it happen overnight,” she said.