BLAIR COUNTY --- On Thursday, schools across the state found out how well students performed on standardized tests last year.

The state released the 2008 results for the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) on Thursday.  These tests are part of the No Child Left Behind Act.  Each year Pennsylvania students are tested in reading, math, and writing.  These students are in grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 11.  Every year the state changes the benchmark of how well these students should do in order to be considered proficient.  These proficiency marks are called Adequate Yearly Progress targets (AYP).

WTAJ News looked at results from Altoona Area and Hollidaysburg School Districts.  For the most part students did well, but there's a catch in the testing process; it’s putting some local schools in a negative category.

Dr. Paul Gallagher, the superintendent for the Hollidaysburg School District was pleased with the results, overall, especially with junior high students. 

“Our test scores in our junior high this year were the highest ever with 85% proficiency in math, and the reading scores were almost at 80% proficiency,” Dr. Gallagher said.   

Altoona schools also put up a good showing.  Almost 75% of students between third and fifth grade are proficient or advanced in math. 

Here's the bad news.  Seven schools within the two districts have been labeled warning schools.  The Altoona schools are Penn-Lincoln Elementary, Washington-Jefferson Elementary, Wright Elementary, Juniata School, and Altoona Area High School.  Frankstown Elementary and Hollidaysburg Junior High School are on the warning list in Hollidaysburg.

These schools have large numbers of students with learning disabilities.  These students are tested on the same level as students without special needs.

“If you're an eighth grader with a special learning problem, you're taking the same test as the high flying over achiever who is probably heading to college someday,” Tom Bradley of the Altoona Area School District said.

Educators said this process is not fair.  These special education students are taught at levels they can handle, but that all changes during PSSA testing time.

“When it comes time for the test, the students have to take the same test everyone else takes and it's very difficult,” Dr. Gallagher said.

If there are 40 or more special education students in a school, those students make up a sub-group.  Those sub-groups are included in the overall school result.  If there are less than 40 students with learning disabilities in a school, they are not included in the overall result.

Each of these seven warning schools in Blair County have special education sub-groups.

Education workers said each year the AYP targets get higher in an attempt to encourage students and teachers to work harder.  They said this legislation will eventually require 100% of students to meet proficiency standards.  These educators argue that if every student is going to be tested on the same level, regardless of their capabilities, this test is hurting, not helping. 

“The concept is outstanding, but the reality is probably by 2014 every school district in America will be in school improvement,” Bradley said.

Altoona Area High School and Juniata School were warning schools last year.  Since this is their second year as a warning school they have been categorized as School Improvement I facilities.  The state will give these schools two years to improve.  Bradley said if they don’t improve the schools will move to School Improvement II categorization.  That’s when the state takes drastic measures, such as replacing teachers and facilitators.

Both Dr. Gallagher and Bradley emphasized that these warning schools make great efforts to help students with learning disabilities.  They hope legislators will see that this testing process is not treating all students and schools fairly.