PassKey was tested at Highland West after
considerable study, Kindrick says. “We looked at lots
of programs, but most of them seemed to be aimed at younger
students. They weren’t really relevant to us. PassKey
was different. For instance, if there was a dialogue between
two students, the students were the right age. They looked
like our students. The teachers also found it very easy
to use, so we decided to give it a try.”
Originally used with underperforming
students, PassKey also appealed to average and honor students,
who had the opportunity to practice with the program after
school. Most students used it between one and two hours
a week.
The results of the PassKey experience
were gratifying. A passing score on the North Carolina test
is 3. Prior to using PassKey, Wallace’s students’
average score was 1.8. After working with PassKey for 8
months, the lowest grade was 2.8 and the highest
was 3.
| “Our
average test score rose from 73, which was below the
state average of 78, to 88.” |
“We started with the reading program,
but added others as we went along. One of our purposes was
to prepare students for the eighth grade Criterion Reference
Test (the Oklahoma P. A. S. S.), which measures student
skills in specific areas,” Kindrick says.
"We worked with 200-300 eighth grade
students for only three months prior to the state test.
Before we installed PassKey, Highland West was the Number
5 performing school of the five junior high schools in the
district. After PassKey, we had greatly improved. Our average
test score rose from 73, which was below the state average
of 78, to an average score of 88. We became the Number 2
performing junior high in the district."
Because of Highland West's success, the
other four junior high schools in the district have installed
PassKey.
