Archives for category: Standardized Testing
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FairTest: Testing Resistance and Reform Around the Nation

By dianeravitch
March 18, 2016 //
6

This is the weekly report from FairTest, which has been fighting for reform of testing for many years.

 

 

In state after state, policymakers are responding to constituent concerns by re-evaluating testing mandates. The changes they initially consider are often cosmetic, such as substituting one mediocre exam for another. But escalating grassroots pressure — particularly opting out — is beginning to force legislators to focus on the real problems of standardized testing overuse and misuse. Already, several have repealed or postponed requirements to evaluate teachers based on student tests scores. By working together, parents, students, teachers, administrators, academics and community activists can increase the odds that more genuine assessment reforms are enacted this year.

 

 

National Is a New Day Really Dawning with “No Child” Successor Law?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2016/03/11/is-a-new-day-really-dawning-with-no-child-left-behinds-successor-law/
National Why the Opt-Out Movement is Good for Students and Parents of Color
http://www.progressive.org/pss/six-reasons-why-opt-out-movement-good-students-and-parents-color

 

 

Multiple States Southern States Reconsidering Role of Student Test Scores in Teacher Evaluation
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/teacherbeat/2016/03/reconsidering_test_scores_in_teacher_evaluations.html
Multiple States On-Line Testing Stumbles Spark Legislation
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2016/03/09/online-testing-stumbles-spark-legislation-in-affected.html
FairTest Chronology of Computerized Testing Problems
http://fairtest.org/computerized-testing-problems-2013-2015

 

 

Arizona Legislature Supports Test Shopping “Menu” Instead of Endorsing Opting Out
http://www.tucsonweekly.com/TheRange/archives/2016/03/09/state-testing-opt-out-is-out-test-shopping-is-a-definite-maybe
Arizona Governor Signs Bill Allowing “Menu” of State Tests
http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2016/03/11/ducey-signs-bill-allowing-menu-of_ap.html

 

 

California Proposed History, Social Science Exams Raise Questions About Testing Burden
http://edsource.org/2016/proposed-history-social-science-tests-raise-concerns-about-testing-burden/561606
California Opting-Out Protects Children From Testing Fixation
http://www.citywatchla.com/index.php/the-la-beat/10714-tests-and-children-accessories-to-education

 

 

Colorado Don’t Add Another Mandatory Test
http://www.denverpost.com/editorials/ci_29622733/dont-add-another-mandatory-test-colorado-students
Colorado Opt Out Billboards
http://www.uniting4kids.com/?na=v&id=4&nk=143-5641f8a865

 

 

Connecticut Another Year Delay in Using Student Test Scores to Evaluate Teachers
http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/Another-year-reprieve-from-using-test-scores-to-6880221.php

 

 

Florida Opting Out a Strong Backlash to Overzealous Standardized Testing
http://www.bradenton.com/opinion/editorials/article64764797.html
Florida Students Start Opting-Out of Standardized Tests
http://weartv.com/news/local/local-students-now-opting-out-of-standarized-tests
Florida Don’t Tie Teacher Bonuses to Their Old College Admissions Exam Scores
http://www.tampabay.com/opinion/columns/ruth-dont-tie-sat-scores-to-teacher-pay/2268675

 

 

Georgia Test Reformers Make More Progress in State Legislature
http://www.myajc.com/news/news/local-education/school-testing-opponents-score-another-round-in-th/nqjJD/

 

 

Indiana Legislature Kills Current Test But Will Its Replacement Have Lower Stakes?
http://www.wfyi.org/news/articles/with-istep-dead-can-the-new-version-lower-the-stakes
Indiana Misuse of Scores in Test-and-Punish Policies is Major Problem
http://www.journalgazette.net/opinion/columns/A-complex-issue–simplified-11913513

 

 

Louisiana Standardized Testing Is Not What Matters
http://www.theadvertiser.com/story/opinion/2016/03/08/voices-standardized-testing-not-important/81479910/

 

 

Maine Poised for the Latest Standardized Testing Debacle
http://fromthemiddle.bangordailynews.com/2016/03/11/home/poised-for-the-latest-standardized-testing-debacle/

 

 

Maryland Educators Urge State to Test Less
http://www.delmarvanow.com/story/opinion/2016/03/09/column-hammer-20160309/81484110/
Maryland Test Exemption Bill Heard by Legislative Committee
http://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/continuing_coverage/annapolis_2016/test-exemption-bill-inspired-by-frederick-family-considered-by-house/article_81165dfe-6103-5f0b-80e3-d22d430b0592.html
Maryland Letters to Editor Say Schools Focus Too Much on Testing
http://www.delmarvanow.com/story/opinion/2016/03/14/maryland-schools-focusing-much-testing/81669996/

 

 

Massachusetts Administrators Exclude Teachers From Testing Conversation With Parents
http://www.cambridgeday.com/2016/03/10/surprise-exclusion-of-teachers-riles-parents-at-world-cafe-over-effects-of-student-testing/
Massachusetts Tool Kit: How to Organize An Opt-Out House Party
http://www.citizensforpublicschools.org/the-facts-on-opting-out-of-mcas-or-parcc/how-to-organize-an-opt-out-house-party/

 

 

New Jersey Schools Post Instructions on How to Refuse State Tests
https://www.tapinto.net/towns/basking-ridge/sections/education/articles/bernards-schools-post-instructions-for-how-to-ref

 

 

New York Educator Supported by Opt-Out Groups On Verge of Election as State Ed Chancellor
http://www.buffalonews.com/city-region/bronx-educator-with-support-of-opt-out-groups-poised-to-become-new-yorks-chancellor-20160308
New York Why the Opt Out Movement Will Continue to Grow
https://optoutcny.wordpress.com/2016/03/07/the-rest-of-the-story/
New York Mobile Billboard Promotes Opting Out
https://dianeravitch.net/2016/03/12/opt-out-truck/

 

 

North Carolina Educators, Activists Pan State’s School Grading System
http://pulse.ncpolicywatch.org/2016/03/15/panel-of-educators-activists-pan-n-c-s-system-of-grading-schools/

 

 

Ohio Does State Testing Format Deserve an “F”?
http://chronicle.northcoastnow.com/2016/03/08/in-state-testing-does-format-earn-an-f/

 

 

Oregon Letter Challenges Whether Computerized Test Scores Are Comparable with Pencil-and-Paper Exams
http://www.mailtribune.com/article/20160309/OPINION/160309659

 

 

Tennessee Hundreds Plan to Opt Out of State Exams
http://www.wrcbtv.com/story/31447426/41-percent-of-normal-park-opts-out-of-tn-ready-tests
Tennessee State Representative Opts Daughter Out of Testing, Organizes Other Parents
http://www.wbrc.com/story/31419681/lawmaker-wife-to-hold-meeting-for-parents-of-students-looking-to-opt-out-of-testing

 

 

Utah New Law Removes Student Test Scores From Teacher Evaluation
http://www.stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2016/03/11/pdd-law-passes-removing-sage-test-scores-from-teacher-evaluations/

 

 

West Virginia Legislature Passes Bill Affirming Common Core Test Repeal, Bars Opt-Out Punishments
http://wvmetronews.com/2016/03/12/bill-dealing-with-common-core-standardized-testing-on-track-for-passage-by-sessions-end/

 

 

International Pension Fund Stockholders Challenge Pearson’s Heavy Reliance on U.S. Testing Business
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2016/03/10/pension-funds-say-pearson-relies-too-much-on-u-s-testing-business/

 

 

ACT/SAT Test Revisions Don’t End Debate on Bias and Inequality in College Admissions Exams
http://news.medill.northwestern.edu/chicago/new-sat-gets-better-reviews-from-students-but-doesnt-end-debate-on-testing-bias/
ACT/SAT College Admissions Tests for All Students? One More Bad Idea From Political Elites
http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/work_in_progress/2016/03/sats_for_all_one_more_bad_idea.html
ACT/SAT Wells College Admissions Now Test Optional
http://auburnpub.com/news/local/wells-college-admissions-now-test-optional/article_7d730727-7401-5d25-bcad-9db4d12e314e.html
ACT/SAT University of Minnesota Leaders Debate Dropping Admissions Exam Requirement
http://www.mndaily.com/news/campus/2016/03/09/u-leaders-debate-use-act-test

 

 

Teaching, Not Testing, Makes Better Students
http://phys.org/news/2016-03-students.html

 

 

 

Bob Schaeffer, Public Education Director
FairTest: National Center for Fair & Open Testing
office- (239) 395-6773 fax- (239) 395-6779
mobile- (239) 699-0468
web- http://www.fairtest.org

Categories Education Reform, Standardized Testing

NEWS FLASH: Making Tests Harder Does Not Make Students Smarter!

By dianeravitch
March 17, 2016 //
19

Steven Singer writes here about a dumb policy that is now commonplace thinking among both Ivy League corporate reformers and redneck legislators: If you make the tests harder, they reason, students will get higher test scores.

 

No, no, no, and no.

 

Singer says his students are weary of the endless testing. And it is getting worse because the tests will be even harder to pass in Pennsylvania.

 

He writes:

 

 

In the last two years, Pennsylvania has modified its mandatory assessments until it’s almost impossible for my students to pass.

 

Bureaucrats call it “raising standards,” but it’s really just making the unlikely almost unthinkable.

 

Impoverished students have traditionally had a harder time scoring as well as their wealthier peers. But the policy response has been to make things MORE difficult. How does that help?

 

Consider this: If a malnourished runner couldn’t finish the 50 yard dash, forcing him to run 100 yards isn’t raising standards. It’s piling on.

 

Oh. Both your arms are broken? Here. Bench press 300 lbs.

 

Both your feet were chopped off in an accident? Go climb Mt. Everest.

 

That’s what’s happening in the Keystone State and across the country. We’re adding extra layers of complexity to each assessment without regard to whether they’re developmentally appropriate or even necessary and fair to gauge individual skills.

 

Where Common Core State Standards have been adopted (and Pennsylvania has its own version called PA Core), annual tests have become irrationally difficult. That’s why last year’s state tests – which were the first completely aligned to PA Core – saw a steep drop off in passing scores. Students flunked it in droves.

 

Where the previous tests were bad, the new ones are beyond inappropriate.

 

Yes, across the country, the tests have been written and designed to fail most students. “Reformers” cheer the increased “rigor.” Do they care that most students are failing the tests? Why do they think that the score on a  standardized test is a measure of good education? More likely, the pursuit of high test scores via multiple-choice tests undermines good education.

 

 

 

 

Categories Common Core, Pennsylvania, Standardized Testing

Georgia: A Win for Common Sense

By dianeravitch
March 16, 2016 //
0

The state legislature in Georgia is nearing the passage of legislation that would reduce the number of mandated tests and reduce the role of tests in teacher evaluations.

 

Legislators are responding to complaints about the sheer quantity of tests. They also recognize that the state’s test-based evaluation has caused high attition, especially among new teachers.

 

Not everyone was pleased with the reduction in testing pressure:

 

“Some still oppose the rollback in Georgia, including the group StudentsFirst, which pushes for better public schools and more alternatives to them. At a hearing in the House last week, Georgia director Michael O’Sullivan said research supports the use of test results in a third to a half of teacher job reviews, and Ryan Mahoney, regional director of the Foundation for Excellence in Education, a group founded by former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, said students need to get used to taking tests since they’ll be taking them to get a driver’s license, to gain admission to college and to get a job. “Tests are a part of life,” he said.”

 

 

Unfortunately, the same proposal adds tests for children in first and second grades, “to be sure they are on track.” On track for what? For taking standardized tests in third grade. Can’t trust their teacher’s judgment. Tests know best.

Categories Education Reform, Georgia, Standardized Testing

New York: Opt Out Leaders Stunned by King’s Approval

By dianeravitch
March 16, 2016 //
25

To say the least, John King had a rocky tenure as Commissioner of Education in New York. He managed to alienate parents with his abrasive, top-down style and his unwavering commitment to the Common Core.

 

Reporter Jaime Franchise spoke with leaders of the Opt Out movement, and all expressed astonishment that he was nominated and confirmed for the post as Secretary of Education in light of his performance in New York.

 

“Jeanette Deutermann, a Long Island parent, founder of the Long Island Opt-Out Info Facebook page, and co-founder of nonprofit New York State Allies for Public Education, blasted King’s ascension Tuesday via her popular Facebook page.

 

“It is inconceivable that a man synonymous with failed education policies could be promoted to the highest education post in our nation,” she slams. “The incompetence of John King as New York’s SED Commissioner was epic, and New York will be cleaning up the mess he made for years to come. The silver lining may be the igniting of an education uprising across the country the way his leadership, or lack thereof, ignited New York.”

 

“That “ignition’ is the robust, pro-public education and anti-Common Core movement that sparked parents, educators, and students to organize, protest, and take action against the education reforms they believed were undermining public education.

 

“Michael Hynes, superintendent of Patchogue-Medford schools, finds the idea of King as U.S. Secretary of Education “beyond appalling.”

 

“It’s really scary to think that that gentleman, and I’m being kind by saying that, has the potential to reframe or to move forward with what Arnie Duncan has started,” he told the Press in January. “This is a guy who is pro-charter, his kids go to Montessori school. I really believe he doesn’t know anything about public education. And now potentially will set policy nationwide.”

 

 

 

 

Categories Common Core, Corporate Reform, Education Reform, John King, New York, Standardized Testing

Senate Approves John King, 49-40

By dianeravitch
March 14, 2016 //
64

Today, the US Senate voted to confirm John King as Secretary of Education by a vote of 49-40.

 

The only Democrat to vote no was New York Senator Gillibrand.

 

King was opposed by many New York parent groups because of his unwillingness to listen, his unyielding devotion to the Common Core, test-based teacher evaluation, high stakes testing for children, and the corporate reform agenda.

Categories Common Core, Corporate Reform, Education Reform, Standardized Testing, Teacher Evaluations, U.S. Department of Education, VAM (value-added modeling)

Are Our Students the Dumbest in the World?

By dianeravitch
March 12, 2016 //
19

Last week, NPR had a story about how “dumb” our students are, compared to those in other countries. The story title said that our high school graduates are on par with high school dropouts elsewhere on international tests.

 

For myself, I always wonder how critics can say in one breath that we live in the greatest nation in the world, and in the next breath say that we have the worst schools and dumbest students in the world. This bizarre logic then leads to the rephormer claim that we must cut the budget for public schools and push for the transfer of funds to religious schools (not known for teaching STEM simubjects) or to brand-new charters run by corporations or amateurs. You might think that only a knucklehead could believe in such truly foolish ideas but our major foundations–Gates, Walton, Broad, Arnold, Helmsley, and others–relentlessly push this line of baloney.

 

One reader referred to the story and blamed “bad” teachers. Another reader who is both teacher and parent, responded here:

 

 

“Let me give you a different perspective, assuming you are willing to listen.
“All schools are not “failing.” I worked years in industry (high tech) and can assure you, on a aggregate level, America’s graduates far exceed the capability of most other countries. I can’t count the number of H1bs I hired that, while good employees, lacked the adaptability and critical thinking required to solve problems. In those countries that ARE on par with us, they support their schools, respect and value teachers, and believe in both a strong college OR vocational pathway. Are some schools “failing”? Sure, but the reasons rarely have to do with teacher competence.
“Now I teach math. So you are free to blame us evil math teachers for your child’s struggle. I’ve heard it all before. Here’s the reality. I teach students who are “high risk” in math. Often, I battle a accumulation of years of external issues – poverty, health problems, learning challenges, disinterested parents, violence, drugs, mental health – the list goes on. I have never abandoned a student, but many parents have. Politicians blame teachers, but then cut social programs, employment opportunities, and health programs. Business complains, but then wiggles out of financially supporting schools, ships good jobs overseas, and pushes job training onto schools. Keep in mind, too, that k-12 works to retain and teach ALL students. Post secondary operates by screening out and eliminating students. Very different missions.
“The students do lack various math skills. I see seniors unable to add fractions trying to solve trig problems. One common thread in math illiteracy is these students are reluctant learners and avoid math. Math is not sesame street. It takes careful study and practice. I can make it “entertaining” and I’ll try my best with a 150+ student roster to “differentiate” and individually reach out to each student, but America does not want great teachers, only inexpensive ones.

 

 

“I am also a parent of a struggling student. Unlike you, I took responsibility from kindergarten for his learning. I followed his progress and alphabet soup of diagnoses. I didn’t just sit back and blame teachers, I actively worked with teachers. I learned about new subjects to help him through school. I reached out and showed interest. I even lost a job focusing on my kids’ well being. Were all teachers perfect? No, they are human. But I made it work. My kid is going to college. He still struggles, but the journey doesn’t end with some kids when they become adults. Think before unfairly indicting a profession.

Categories Corporate Reform, Education Industry, Education Reform, International, Standardized Testing, Students

Opt Out Truck Coming To A Neighborhood Near You

By dianeravitch
March 12, 2016 //
11

This roving opt-out billboard can be seen driving around New York.  If you see it, give a honk of support. The truck and billboard are sponsored by New York State Allies for Public Education, a coalition of 50 parent and educator groups. NYSAPE led the historic opt out movement last spring, which persuaded the families of some 220,000 or more students to opt out of the state tests. State officials were stunned. Governor Cuomo created a task force to help him get out of the mess, which caused his poll numbers to plummet. The state Board of Regents split over the issues of high-stakes testing, and the chancellor of the Regents announced her resignation. A supporter of the parents who opted out is likely to be chosen as the new chancellor in a few days.

 

Parents will opt out again in 2016 because despite the stunned reaction of public officials, very little has changed. The testing goes on. The absence of useful information continues. The tests are still too long. And NYSAPE’s truck is rolling again.

Categories Education Reform, New York, Opt Out, Parent Groups, Standardized Testing

Merryl Tisch: I Did It for the Kids

By dianeravitch
March 11, 2016 //
64

Merryl Tisch is stepping down as Chancellor of the New York Board of Regents, ending a 20-year tenure on the board. The New York Times interviewed her about her time in office.

 

Tisch led the state’s effort to win Race to the Top funding. The state received $700 million, promising to increase charters, adopt the Common Core, create a longitudinal database for students, and evaluate teachers by test scores.

 

She promoted high-stakes testing, test-based teacher evaluation, charter schools, and everything expected by Race to the Top. And she didn’t just comply, she truly believes that testing, Common Core, and accountability will increase equity and reduce achievement gaps. She did it for the kids.

 

“She tried to do too much, too fast.

 
“That is Merryl H. Tisch’s appraisal of her tenure as chancellor of the Board of Regents, the top education post in New York State, as she prepares to step down at the end of the month.

 
“Her critics say the same thing.

 
“A champion of the Common Core learning standards, Dr. Tisch, 60, pushed for the creation of new, harder tests based on those standards and for teacher evaluations tied to students’ performance on the exams.

 

“That set off a backlash in which a fifth of the eligible students sat out the state’s third- through eighth-grade reading and math tests last spring. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, once her ally on using test scores in teacher evaluations, did an about-face….

 

““If anything, I fault myself for being ambitious for every child,” she said.”

 

 

Categories Charter Schools, Common Core, Education Reform, New York, Race to the Top, Standardized Testing, Teacher Evaluations

Rick Hess: New Teacher Evaluation Systems Have Made Little Difference

By dianeravitch
March 10, 2016 //
26

Rick Hess writes about a new study of teacher evaluation systems in 19 states by Matthew Kraft and Allison Gilmour. It shows that the new systems have made little difference. Instead of 99% of trachers rated effective, 97% are rated effective.

 

This was Arne Duncan’s Big Idea. It was an essential element of Race to the Top. The assumption behind it was that if kids got low test scores, their teachers must be ineffective.

 

It failed, despite the hundreds of millions–perhaps billions– devoted to creating these new systems to grade teachers. Think of how that money might have been used to help children and schools directly!

 

Hess writes:

 

“Emboldened by a remarkable confidence in noble intentions and technocratic expertise, advocates have tended to act as if these policies would be self-fulfilling. They can protest this characterization all they want, but one reason we’ve heard so much about pre-K in the past few years is that, as far as many reformers were concerned, the big and interesting fights on teacher evaluation had already been won. They had moved on.

 

“There’s a telling irony here. Back in the 1990s, there was a sense that reforms failed when advocates got bogged down in efforts to change “professional practice” while ignoring the role of policy. Reformers learned the lesson, but they may have learned it too well. While past reformers tried to change educational culture without changing policy, today’s frequently seem intent on changing policy without changing culture. The resulting policies are overmatched by the incentives embedded in professional and political culture, and the fact that most school leaders and district officials are neither inclined nor equipped to translate these policy dictates into practice.

 

“And it’s not like policymakers have helped with any of this by reducing the paper burden associated with harsh evaluations or giving principals tools for dealing with now-embittered teachers. If anything, these evaluation systems have ramped up the paperwork and procedural burdens on school leaders—ultimately encouraging them to go through the motions and undercut the whole point of these systems.”

 

 

 

 

Categories Duncan, Arne, Race to the Top, Standardized Testing, Teacher Evaluations, VAM (value-added modeling)

Why the Historic New York Opt Out Will Continue

By dianeravitch
March 10, 2016 //
24

Jessica McNair, a board member of New York State Allies for Public Education–a coalition of fifty parent and educator groups–explained why the opt out movement will not back down this spring. In 2015, about 20% of all eligible students refused the state Common Core tests. That was about 240,000 students. That shook up the state leadership, who have been busily devising ways to appear to placate the angry parents of New York.

 

Bottom line: Despite promises and threats, nothing has changed for the children. “Shortening” the tests translates into dropping one question. Making the tests untimed for students with disabilities mean these children will be tested even longer than before.

 

Testing will continue to be the central driving force in the schools.

 

Opt out will not disappear. It will become the norm, if NYSAPE is successful.

Categories Common Core, Education Reform, New York, Opt Out, Parent Groups, Standardized Testing
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