EDGE

Outperforming the Rest: All Grades, All Subjects

                                                       

by Cynthia Gettys and Carol Meyers

The November 15, 2010, issue of the Christian Scientist Monitor published an article titled “For Real Education Reform, Take a Cue from the Adventists.” To entice readers to read through the full story, the editors wrote the following teaser: “Amid the buzz on education reform, the Seventh-day Adventist school system might seem an unexpected place to look for models in improving student achievement. But by educating mind, body, and spirit, Adventist schools outperform the national average across all demographics.”  These accolades celebrate the findings of four years of CognitiveGenesis research.

Cognitive Genesis is a groundbreaking study that indicates students in Adventist schools in the U.S. score above the national average in all grades and all subjects. What is even more astounding is the longer students are in Adventist schools, the greater their success. Even more amazing, the results were achieved in a system where enrollment is open, meaning students are not screened for high ability as in many other private schools. In addition, students in smaller schools do as well or better than those in larger school.

La Sierra University conducted this groundbreaking and rigorous research in a four-year longitudinal study to assess Adventist academics. From 2006-2010, test scores measuring both achievement* and ability** were analyzed for 51,706 students. Survey data was also collected from students, parents, teachers, and administrators to study relationships between student ability and achievement. Data demonstrated how ability and achievement are related to student, home, school, and teacher factors. Higher achievement is found with students who:
•    Spend appropriate time after school in “positive” activities — reading
     after school for pleasure and taking part in religious activities
•    Try to do their best in school
•    Have a healthy relationship with their parents
•    Have positive friends
•    Have a positive spiritual outlook
•    Take care of their health
•    Spend less time after school in “detracting” activities — watching TV
     or playing sports

Southern Union educators study these findings on a regular basis to ensure continuous growth in an ongoing quest to provide quality Adventist education. Because we serve an excellent God, we have a biblical mandate to achieve excellence. As we partner with parents to educate the whole child — mind, body, and spirit — it is our desire for every student to excel in faith, learning, and service, blending academic achievement and biblical truth to honor God and bless others.

For more information: http://www.cognitivegenesis.org

* The Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS), used to measure student achievement, is a norm-referenced test which provides a comprehensive assessment of student progress in major content areas.  It is a researched, proven measurement given across the United States in public, private, and parochial school districts. The test provides diagnostic data that can be used in curricular decisions and monitoring student progress year to year (value added progress). 

** The Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT), used to measure student ability, is a measure of a student’s potential to succeed in school-related tasks. It is NOT a tool for measuring a student’s intelligence or IQ.  Rather, it measures the reasoning skills that have developed during a student’s educational career, even though they have not been explicitly taught. The CogAT also measures general “school skills,” such as the ability to listen, follow directions, and focus attention.

 1. “For Real Education Reform, Take a Cue From the Adventists,” The 
     Christian Science Monitor, www.csmonitor.com/Commentary
     /Opinion/1115 ( November 15, 2010).

2.  “Church Leadership Briefed on CogGen Results,” CognitiveGenesis
     Newsletter, http://www.cognitivegenesis.org/site/1
     /docs/CogGenNewsletteWinter2011.pdf (Winter, 2010-11).