Re: About muti-tiered diplomas

[Jeanne Goodman <jeannegoodman@YAHOO.COM>]

While multi-tiered diplomas would be an improvement over a "double or
nothin'" strategy. I still have a problem with determining the success or
failure of a student's ability to perform based on the results of one
standardized test.

Standardized testing gives a false sense of security and false readings.

I think standardized tests are analogous to describing people based on
their astrological sign. There may be a few traits that are actually
accurately represented by your sun sign, but most of it is coincidental
and if you were to read the description of another sign you would find
about the same number of correlations.

Describing a student's depth of understanding with a very two dimensional
tool is so inaccurate as to be useless, regardless of how you plan to
punish them.

Jeanne Goodman

--- Karen Hartke <Khartkeft@AOL.COM> wrote:
> I'd like to open up a topic for discussion that is taken from real life
> situations:
>
> What are ARN participants views, ideas, research, experience worries,
etc. about moves to remove high stakes from graduation tests by creating a
two-or multi-tiered graduation diplomas.
>
> One such system recently proposed by a business group in Massachusetts
(I'll forward the article in another email) sets up diplomas based on
scores on the state test.   So if you only pass English and Math - you get
a basic diploma; if you pass other subjects another level, if you score at
Advanced on test another level.
>
> Would you oppose, support such a system.  Why or why not?
>
> Karen Hartke
> FairTest


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