Re: A request for an explanation from a Congressional staffer

[Bob Schaeffer <bobschaeffer@earthlink.net>]

Ken:

I don't know Tom Toch's source, but the Government Accountability Office 
did produce a report on NCLB testing costs in 2003, which has some 
statistics:

   http://www.gao.gov/new.items/d03389.pdf

Toch covered the education testing beat as a reporter (Education Week, 
U.S. News & World Report) for many years. He work is generally viewed as 
solid and accurate.  You probably can ask him directly about the source 
-- ttoch@educationsector.org

Bob Schaeffer, Public Education Director
FairTest: National Center for Fair & Open Testing

Kenneth Bernstein wrote:

> I apologize for those of you who may receive more than one copy of this
>
> when I passed on the education week article from Thomas Toch that Bob Schaeffer distributed to the various ARN lists,  entitled "In Testing, the Infrastructure is Buckling" which included the following paragraph:  "By the measure of how much money states spend on No Child Left Behind testing, it’s hardly surprising that we’re getting simple-minded tests. Despite testing’s tremendous importance to school reform, under the law 
> states typically spend about one-quarter of 1 percent of combined federal, state, and local school revenues on their statewide testing programs, or about $20 of the more than $8,000 spent per student."
>
>
> one staffer asked "I saw this article yesterday and am wondering about one of the stats in it.  How accurate is the statement that states are only spending about one-quarter of one percent of combined revenues on their statewide testing programs?  Have you seen that stat elsewhere?  I realize there are a lot of competing things that states have to spend their education dollars on within the system, but that seems like such a low percentage - what's the justification? "
>
> I asked and received the staffer's permission to send along the question.  So if anyone knows if Toch's assessment is accurate, or can point at how his statement is technically accurate but misleading, it would be helpful.   This is a staffer for a Congressional figure who has real problems with NCLB, so I try to get the staffer whatever information is requested as quickly as possible.   Please be specific if you have the data, or if you think you know where the info can be found.  If someone personally knows Toch and could contact him directly and get an explanation, that would also be helpful.  Feel free to respond to me directly or on list as you prefer.
>
> teacherken  aka ken bernstein
>
> Kenneth J. Bernstein
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