CNMI public school students are still struggling to read English based on the results of the Standardized Achievement Test 9 that they took, according to Pacific Resources for Education and Learning.
Dr. Don Burger, director of PREL’s Pacific Assessment Systems and Services Program, teaching CNMI students to read English remains a major challenge for local educators.
“SAT9 data says that compared to U.S. mainland kids, Saipan kids struggle with reading English,” Burger said.
Burger and his wife, Dr. Susan Burger, are on island to conduct a week-long assessment institute for principals and teacher leaders from public elementary and high schools.
Two other education experts—Dr. Sharon Camblin and Bruce Camblin of Bellingham, Washington—are helping the Burgers in the assessment workshop that started Monday.
Aside from SAT9, the reading ability of students are also measured by the Public School System, Burger said. According to Burger, the PSS reading test data showed that there are some areas where students are doing very well in reading and there are also some areas where they do not.
Burger described the PSS test as more focused than SAT9.
“The reading test data from the PSS gives us another look. This is another important tool that we should look at,” he said.
PSS data provides a benchmark rather than a single test score.
“So rather than getting a test score, you get a profile of what students can do based on the benchmark or what was actually taught,” Burger said.
“We know that some things are working very well but there are also some other areas that we really need to focus on. This is the first year that they have seen it. It’s baseline data. It’s the starting point,” he added.
