A recent survey from Utah State Office of Education found that two-thirds of its teachers say the state’s annual test- SAGE- does not help students improve.

The state’s education leaders, however, are saying that the problem isn’t the test- but the fact that teachers are not correctly interpreting student data from the tests to "identify student learning gaps and implement evidence-based instruction,” said The Deseret News.

"State education leaders say the recent teacher feedback shows a 'critical need' for more resources to help educators understand what SAGE means for students and their instruction.”

Though a majority of teachers agreed that SAGE is aligned with Utah Core Standards and holds students to high expectations, they also largely agree that the effectiveness of the end-of-year exam is questionable.

These same teachers expressed a desire to learn how to make the exam more effective and translatable to their instruction.

"When asked about ways to improve the assessment, providing opportunities to learn from teachers with high academic growth topped the list, with support from 62 percent of respondents. Fifty-one percent of teachers asked for more training on how to use SAGE results, and 44 percent wanted help in interpreting the results,” the article said.

State education officials are optimistic that the statewide test is a step in the right direction and will soon meet to discuss how to better help teachers interpret student results.

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Article by Nicole Gorman, Education World Contributor