There are ways to better test scores in Costa Mesa high schools

At the risk of sounding both flippant and simplistic, I say, “It’s

the size, stupid.” Lower the class size of all English and math

classes throughout the district to no more than 25 students to one

teacher (“Testing divide remains at district schools,” Aug. 30). Last

year, I taught a class of 41 teenagers. Some of my colleagues teach

up to 45. That’s criminal.

Also, school board member Wendy Leece needs a bit of an English

grammar review. It’s not “less [students] are moving behind,” but

rather, fewer are falling behind.

FLO MARTIN

Costa Mesa

What steps should the Newport-Mesa Unified School District take to

continue improving student test scores?

As a teacher at a low-performing school in Costa Mesa, I feel we

have done a great deal to improve our test scores. We just completed

several days training on the best research-based methods for teaching

reading to English language learners. This isn’t the first time we

have been trained in this area and it won’t be the last.

We have also received training in strategies to enable English

language learners access to the core curriculum. Each teacher on our

staff is fully credentialed and has high expectations for our

students.

The majority of our students are English language learners who

come from homes where their parents did not complete high school.

Since there is a high correlation between test scores and parent

education, Costa Mesa will probably never catch up with Newport

Beach.

All we can do is continue to improve our test scores little by

little. One way to raise the test scores in Costa Mesa would be to

level the playing field. Most of our students do not come to school

knowing English or having had preschool.

Most students in Newport Beach have a five-year head start in

English language development and most have had one or two years of

preschool. We need a two-year, state-sponsored preschool to help our

students catch up with their peers. We need on-site parent education

classes to help parents help their children. We also need the

community to understand that test scores are only one measure of a

successful education.

PEGGY ENGARD

Costa Mesa

EDITOR’S NOTE: Peggy Engard is a teacher at Pomona Elementary

School.