Columnist Bill Hanlon: Progress being made by Nevada's students, college tests show

SUPERINTENDENT OF PUBLIC INSTRUCTION Mary Peterson released the results of the ACT exam given last year. The news is good. The college-entrance test scores for Nevada students went up for the second year in a row.

Not only did the scores increase, more students took the test. Usually when the number of students taking the test increases, scores go down.

Nevada students scored above the national average on the composite score and in each of the four subjects. The results in the critical areas of reading and math are encouraging.

I think this is good evidence that the policies of the state and local school boards are working.

The second piece of good news is that Nevada's new academic standards were approved by the Council to Create Academic Standards and adopted by the State Board of Education. These standards in English, math and science will be implemented during the 1999-2000 school year.

The new standards in English and math resemble local school district curriculum frameworks, but local districts will have to tweak their curriculum guides a little.

Reports that students will have to take algebra and geometry to graduate are not true. Students will be tested on some concepts in algebra, geometry, probability and statistics, but they will not have to take those courses.

The science standards call for an integrated study of the sciences rather than the traditional biology, chemistry and physics. The new science standards look like those developed by the state Department of Education before the last Legislature created the council. These standards also follow the model set forth by the National Science Teachers Association.

With the problems already facing Nevada in attracting math and science teachers, this new course should result in strengthening teacher-licensing standards.

The council has worked hard to get these standards delivered on time. Performance standards will be completed as the council works on content standards for other subjects. Chairwoman Debbie Smith should be commended for holding this together, involving the public and keeping the fast pace needed to meet deadlines.

Elaine Wynn's comments on state funding of the technology required by the new standards were pleasing. That's an expensive proposition. College entrance exams and other tests require graphing calculators without which Nevada students will be at a disadvantage.

Assemblywoman Vonne Chowning and Sen. Ann O'Connell hit the nail on the head with their questions and concerns. It's that type of insight that will make Nevada's Educational Reform Act a success. And they both understand the need for remediation programs for those who can't reach the new standards on the first attempt.

I believe if the Legislative Committee on Education heeds the advice of the State Board of Education, the Council to Create Academic Standards and the Academic Council, Nevada's academic achievement scores will stay on the upswing. The new test results indicate the state is moving in the right direction. This is not the time to get off course and lose those gains in the name of politics.

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