Members of the Providence Student Union persuaded at least 50 adults to take the high school graduation test this Saturday.
One who took it early was State Senator Gayle Goldin. She fears she didn’t do very
well.
This is a stellar example of creative student protest. No one was injured. They are making their point well and getting great media attention.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Yeah! Every single test the kids have to take should be taken by ‘every single person, who demands those tests be taken.
Does anyone know what happened in Denver yesterday? Did the students opt out?
Can Arne take the tests?
Did you all catch this part?
“It is illegal for anyone other than students to take the actual NECAP, but each year a certain number of questions from past exams are made public.”
Illegal.
Wow.
Do the tests have more rights than the students/teachers?
😉
I have always had my suspicions about the secrecy surrounding the tests in my state.
Seems to be hiding the quality and level of the test, as well as the big lie that these tests companies spend $ on creating the tests every year. IMHO.
Ang: IMHO, two of the most important reasons for the secrecy surrounding high stakes standardized tests are 1), the terribly flawed scoring process [read Todd Farley’s MAKING THE GRADES: MY MISADVENTURES IN THE STANDARDIZED TESTING INDUSTRY] and 2), the emptiness and worthlessness of some of the questions [google “pineapple” and “hare” and “standardized testing” and “Daniel Pinkwater”].
Think I am exaggerating? Read this interview with Daniel Pinwater: http://blogs.wsj.com/metropolis/2012/04/20/daniel-pinkwater-on-pineapple-exam-nonsense-on-top-of-nonsense/
Hi Krazy,
Totally agree with you regarding your 1 and 2.
I am very sure that many of the questions are “gotcha” types, strangely worded, culturally biased, unnecessarily difficult (especially for ESOL or sp. ed. students).
In short, worthless.
I also think some of the secrecy comes about due to trying to hide the fact that these tests have nothing to do with college or career ready. If they did all of us who have “college and career” would be at least able to pass, right?
BTW…I have read Making the Grade…should be handed out to every parent during testing season.
Senator Goldin would have my vote if I lived in Rhode Island. We need more brave individuals to expose these tests and the damage we are doing to a whole generation of children.
Some interesting news! The Education Achievement Authority of Michigan just recieved a $10 million bailout from the Broad Foundation. http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2013130314080
“Education is the key to unlock the golden door of freedom” – Carter G Woodson
Jason L Patton Doctoral Candidate, Ed.D. Eastern Michigan University College of Education – Leadership & Counseling (313) 283-1105