MMAT SCORES ARE JUST ONE MEASURE OF SUCCESS

Missouri Mastery and Achievement Test (MMAT) is a statewide examination that evaluates students' knowledge of specific skills. It measures mastery in reading, English, math, science and social studies. And while statewide comparisons are needed, schools and parents should keep the MMAT results in perspective.

The scores are just one measure of a school's success. This statewide test should not drive curriculum or consume the educational process.

That's not to say standardized testing does not have some merit. As consumers, we want to make sure our schools are as good or better than the rest of the state. But we must strike a balance.

The questions are devised by statewide groups of educators who decide what key skills students should know. But the test knowledge shouldn't become all-inclusive. Cape Girardeau should still be able to decide if students here need to learn more about the solar system than cells. Local autonomy remains crucial. The MMAT should not push us closer to a statewide curriculum. Local taxpayers who support the schools should retain some choice in the educational process.

Since the scores are publicly released, it's hard not to make regional or statewide comparisons. Early on, Gov. John Ashcroft referred to the MMAT as a kind of statewide report card. No school wants to find itself at the bottom of the heap. To avoid that, most schools try to teach the skills covered by the test.

Low scores suggest areas that need work in a district. It could be a problem with curriculum, teacher or student. Teacher-to-student ratios could be too high. Or it could just be an off day for kids. Some of the smaller school districts also face special problems. While hundreds of second graders may be tested in large districts, only eight second graders took the test in the Delta Public Schools. One or two kids can make a much larger impact on the results - either up or down - in a smaller district. Again, this is where the importance of perspective comes in.

Just as the school districts receive their test results, so do individual students. This is one of the real strengths of the MMAT. These individual reports provide insight for both parents and teachers.

These tests are not the only forces driving standardized core curriculums. New, tougher admission policies in higher education are requiring a basis of knowledge. This too forces districts to teach certain skills, so their graduates can pursue post-secondary degrees.

As taxpayers, we want to make sure we're getting our money's worth. A standardized test gives us a way of comparing our schools. But there are other measuring sticks as well. Strong graduation rates, and high numbers of students going on to post secondary education are other success stories. They all combine to demonstrate a school's worth. Test averages over the long term are perhaps a better indicator of a district's success.

For the most part, area schools have achieved a passing grade or better on the MMAT. Just as poor results shouldn't be devastating, high scores shouldn't be cause for celebration. MMAT reflects district trends. It's just a signpost on the road to learning, not the final destination.