Syracuse.com Speaks to Professor George Theoharis About Falling Math Scores

Which Onondaga County schools saw falling math scores during Covid? An exclusive analysis

(Syracuse.com | Nov. 11, 2022) Before Covid-19 closed schools and turned classroom time into remote learning, nearly half of students tested in math skills in Onondaga Central School District were proficient.

Last spring, math scores in grades 3 through 8 fell: Just 39% on average at Onondaga were considered proficient in the 2022 state test scores released late last month.

Those results are part of the reason why Onondaga Central School District officials launched an after-school program this fall to help kids struggling in math, English and social development …

“Schools will boost reading and math academic interventions, and that will likely ‘produce very mixed results, as it always does.’”

George Theoharis, an education professor at Syracuse University said it remains to be seen whether the dip in scores closes by next year or not.

“Schools are good at getting kids to learn,” he said, “and they are doing what they can to get back on track with regular learning. But changes don’t happen overnight.”

Remote learning, connectivity and health issues all impacted students and their scores, while some kids thrived with distance learning, he said.

Schools will boost reading and math academic interventions, and that will likely “produce very mixed results, as it always does,” he said.

The main lesson from the assessments is to embrace all students’ learning levels and help them move forward, Theoharis said.

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