Education

Fairbanks school district seeks study of state testing accuracy

FAIRBANKS — The Fairbanks North Star Borough School District has requested an analysis of the accuracy of statewide testing that produced lower-than-expected results.

The Fairbanks Daily News-Miner reported Sunday that the request follows the release of results for the yearly Performance Evaluation for Alaska's Schools and the Alaska Science Assessment.

The school board’s unanimous resolution forwarded to the Association of Alaska School Boards seeks to ensure an “accurate and authentic assessment of student learning.”

Fairbanks officials say more than half of students who were tested scored below proficient or lower in English language arts, compared with 41.8% whose scores were proficient or higher.

Officials say that in mathematics, 39.3% of Fairbanks students reached a proficient score or higher. In science, 52% of Fairbanks students scored proficient or higher.

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