Figures for the past seven years indicate that St. Tammany Parish test scores for LEAP, iLEAP and GEE are on an upward trend, with the subgroups of black students and students with disabilities also making gains.

The figures were presented at the St. Tammany School Board Committee as a Whole Meeting for human resources and curriculum and instruction.

Eighty-eight percent of fourth graders met promotion standards at the end of the school year. Through summer programs and retesting, the figure climbed to 96 percent by the end of the summer. Eighth-graders also fared well with 91 percent meeting the standards at the end of the school year and 89 percent meeting the standards by the end of the summer.

Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction Cheryl Arabie said that 40 percent of students tested at mastery or advanced levels in fourth grade English language arts, with steady growth for eighth graders at 30 percent.

The trend for fourth grade math in the last seven years showed an increase from 25 to 40 percent with eighth graders showing significant gains.

Arabie credits the upward trends to a number of initiatives that are in place throughout the system, including guaranteed curriculum and interval assessments, teachers building what they need to improve student performance, the use of Schlechty Center guidelines for instructional leadership that helps build capacity for improvement and change and the use of technology in the classroom.

Among the black subgroup, there have been significant gains in the last two years. Another subgroup, students with disabilities, is above the state average and improving throughout the parish.

Some of the initiatives that are helping students achieve include an extended school year program whereby students stay in school three weeks later or enter three weeks earlier, or both; web-based programs, and the achieve program that allows students to work at their own pace.

Julie Matte presented a summary of summer school programs held this year. In addition to traditional summer school that helped students improve in areas in which they were deficient, virtual summer school also offered classes to students who simply wanted to take a class.

Summer LEAP remediation was also held in a four-week or two-week session followed by a retest to help student’s progress to the next level.

GEE remediation classes were also held to provide students an opportunity to improve scores.

A program entitled Fast Forward was held for about 101 students. The program uses computer delivered brain exercises designed to help students with speech therapy.

The STARS program was held for students who are at risk to give them an early start. This included math and reading class with enrichment programs including computer, physical education and art.

The 21st Century Learning Center camps offered students an opportunity to enjoy enrichment activities including field trips and a Junior Corps of junior high school students to participate in service learning, including safe sitter programs.

Between these camps, enrichments camps and band and fine arts camps, about a third of the student population were involved in summer activities.