Re: MCAS legislative proposals

["Deanna M. De'Liberto" <Ddeliberto@AOL.COM>]

In a message dated 2/8/99 1:28:12 PM Eastern Standard Time, Mneillft@aol.COM
writes:

> Dave concluded: Someone wrote to this list about a month ago that this group
>  has to choose whether it is going to organize against high-stakes tests or
>  whether it is
>  going to try to "improve" them. I think that assessment of this group's
>  options were correct. The memo prepared by the "legislative committee"
makes
>  clear the nature of the choice.
>

It has been a while since I posted to this list but I have been reading (with
interest) all posts on this thread.

What is so wrong with an approach that would "improve" tests, assessments,
etc.?  Please note that I am not limiting this question to high stakes tests.

I often get calls from parents and others regarding the validity of tests used
in their state along with other questions regarding test misuse.  If tests are
developed properly and used for the purpose they are intended by those
qualified to interpret the results, then the problems we are discussing would
not exist.  Tests can provide meaningful information that will assist teachers
and others in making instruction decisions but only if used for the purposes
intended and by those qualified to interpret the results.

Clearly there are many cases of test misuse and even cases in which tests are
not developed properly.  But that does NOT mean that all tests are invalid.  I
think education and advocacy should focus on getting out a message on how to
know whether the test your child will take is valid and being used properly.
The Association of Test Publishers has a pamphlet entitled "Answers To
Questions About Tests" for this purpose and single copies are free of charge
to parents.

Let's get rid of the bad tests--and keep the good ones.  Let's create
sanctions for those that do not use the tests properly.  Educational
evaluators and politicians are among the two groups most well known for
misusing tests.  Something should be done about this!

Deanna
===================================================
Deanna M. De'Liberto, President/Director of Assessment
D Squared Assessments, Inc.
(Specialists in Test Development/Validation and Test Administration)
9 Bedle Road, Suite 250
Hazlet, NJ 07730-1209
Phone:  (732) 888-9339
Email:    Ddeliberto@aol.com
Web:     http://www.quikpage.com/D/dsquared

Member of the Association of Test Publishers
===================================================

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