Utah Board of Education challenges claims of low student proficiency rates

The Utah State Board of Education is facing criticism over low proficiency rates among high school students, with less than half of all Utah students ranked as proficient in language, math, and science. Despite pushback from the board, parents are expressing concerns about the readiness of students for life after high school.

Selene Duran, a parent of a West High School student, believes that schools need more resources to help students succeed. She shared, “Many students, like my student, he was a really good reader but he was not really good at understanding what he was reading. So, we got more help, we asked for more help.”

Another parent, Jan Nielsen, pointed to distractions like mobile phones as hindering student success. He stated, “I would love to see us parents not allow our kids to go to school with mobile phones.”

The Utah State Board of Education Data Gateway reveals concerning proficiency rates among 11th graders, with only 35 percent proficient in language arts, 22 percent in math, and 20 percent in science. Assistant superintendent Darin Nielson attributed these results to the ACT test being used for 11th graders, which differs from the assessment given to other students.

Despite these challenges, Utah’s ACT results compared to other states rank the state number one. However, the state’s data gateway does not reflect these results, instead showing lower proficiency rates among students who were unable to take the ACT.

The board has a strategic plan in place with goals focused on early learning, effective educators, safe and healthy schools, and personalized teaching and learning. As the state works to address these proficiency issues, parents and educators alike are hopeful for improvements in student success.