Re: CA Accountability Program Fails Federal Standards

[Juanita Doyon <Jedoyon@AOL.COM>]

In a message dated 2/1/01 12:27:41 AM Pacific Standard Time,
gsheridan@BOMUSD.EDCOE.K12.CA.US writes:

<< But if Congress attaches any financial sanctions to state or local failure
 to show progress, states that had on their own been demanding as much as
 possible -- and often more than could be expected -- in the way of test
 scores from their schools and students will be tempted to reverse course.
 If the feds are going to punish you for failure, why make things
 unnecessarily hard for yourself? >>

This is what I suspect will happen in Washington State.  If federal money is
tied to improved test scores, why use WASL scores that are wildly
unpredictable?  I suspect "stay the course" will quickly turn to "scrap the
test."  If the Bush plan leads to the use of basic reading and math tests,
with little consequence to students, except (in our dreams) increased help in
the areas of reading and math, is it possible that our kids would have
regained a little educational justice?  How do we keep from dumbing down the
curriculum to only address basic math and reading scores?  This is the
question, I think.  How do we use all of this to our advantage, in our search
for fair and open testing and accountability?

Juanita

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