Oct 27, 2017 By Cara Host for The Almanac writer@thealmanac.Net 3 min read

Bethel Park school officials saw evidence of the district’s strengths and areas in which it can improve in recently released standardized test results.

The state Department of Education in September released the results of the 2017 Pennsylvania System of School Assessment tests and the Keystone Exams. School administrators delivered a presentation on how Bethel Park students fared at the meeting Oct. 24.

Overall, Bethel Park children are improving and performing better than the state average in math, language arts and science. However, school officials said they believe the district could do better in some areas, particularly math.

“We have a lot of work to do in mathematics,” said Superintendent Joseph Pasquerilla.

About 61 percent of Bethel Park students in grades 3-8 tested proficient or advanced in math. Bethel Park students performed significantly better than the state average, at 42.6 percent, but Pasquerilla said the district can do better. He said school could offer more remedial or enrichment opportunities.

He believes one teaching method, which was implemented about a year ago, already helped boost scores, at least at the elementary level. Elementary schools introduced an extra period set aside for remediation and enrichment that school officials dubbed, Hawk Time.

During this 40-minute period, students receive extra practice on some of the lessons that were taught during the regular class time. Children split into groups based on how well they grasp the material and play games or complete other activities that reinforce concepts that were covered in class. Some groups will be focused on remediation, for students who need extra help learning the material. Other groups will expand the concepts for students who already have a firm grasp of the lesson.

For instance, children could play a game using measurement or engage in a discussion on how to plan a vacation within a certain budget.

“The student groups will change as needed and different teachers lead the groups, so the students will be exposed to different teaching styles,” said Elizabeth Wells, curriculum coordinator.

Bethel Park elementary students improved their math and English scores almost across the board, and school officials believe Hawk Time is one reason why.

“We need to recognize that (these test scores) are just one piece to the puzzle. We also need to celebrate how our students are at the STEAM Showcase and are excelling in that way,” said Pasquerilla, referring to Allegheny Intermediate Unit event held Oct. 24 in which students in the Pittsburgh area demonstrated projects in the fields of science, technology, engineering, art and math, or STEAM.

However, some parents believe decreased staffing levels are undermining any effort for the school district to improve. About a half dozen parents addressed the board to voice their frustration over recent board moves to eliminate vacant positions as opposed to hiring new teachers and administrators.

Stephanie Sillman recited the Charles Osgood poem, Pretty Good, about a student whose education system was content to let him continue to be just pretty good.

Sillman added that the status quo does not live up to its potential and the district’s children are suffering for it.