A statistical evaluation of new testing standards for public school students shows scores could go up this year, a testing expert told the Board of Education.

Robert McClelland, director of the Department of Education's Systems Accountability Office, said he expects to see an increase in the percentage of students who reach proficiency in reading and math almost across the board.

Only in fourth grade reading does he see any concerns about a drop in the percentage of students meeting proficiency.

A large factor in the possibility of better scores is that tests became grade-specific this year, he said. For example, students in fourth grade will only be tested on the work done in that grade, rather than being exposed to questions that relate to fifth-grade work as in the past.

"Now it's much more right on target," said McClelland.

The statistical evaluation was based on the way students have scored in the past, using data from the 2006 test results to estimate where students would be in this new test. The testing is still based on the same scale of 500 points, with 300 points being the place at which a student is deemed to be "meeting proficiency."

The Department of Education developed new tests after adopting new content standards for each grade in 2005.

It has taken this long to produce new test questions, including field tests for them, for the Hawai'i State Assessment, which is the standardized test given annually to evaluate how well Hawai'i's students are performing under No Child Left Behind guidelines.

Education officials say there's been no "dumbing-down" of the new test.

On Thursday, the Board of Education adopted new scores that define whether a student falls below proficiency, meets it or exceeds it. These scores were developed by a committee of more than 100 Hawai'i educators, parents and community members, with some oversight by officials from the U.S. Department of Education.

"I feel very comfortable this is still a challenging test for kids at all grade levels in both subjects," said McClelland. "It's not a lessening of rigor or expectations. They're (students) still expected to do very well."

Reach Beverly Creamer at bcreamer@honoluluadvertiser.com.