Re: state reading and math tests

["Monty Neill" <monty@fairtest.org>]

What CEP ignored but has been widely covered, by Fairtest, Civil Rights 
Project and others, is that the rate of improvement on NAEP has slowed since 
2002 when NCLB began to come into effect. There has been almost no reading 
progress, some in math, quite possibly the continuing effects of the big 
push to intensify math teaching in the 1990s, intensified by NCLB which 
counts only reading and math.

The lack of progress in reading suggests the phonics-intensive "Reading 
First" (sic) program is not working well (as many predicted and have been 
tracking). The NAEP-state discrepancy suggests that most of the state gains 
represent three things: by far the largest component is inflated state test 
scores from a narrow focus on what is covered by the tests in reading and 
math; secondly, increases in reading and math due to vastly more time on 
those subjects; and third, likely some gains due to some states taking some 
steps in schools that were in particularly bad shape by most any measure - a 
sadly uncertain means of addressing school problems, in general and for 
low-income kids in particular. This latter would be reflected in the 
modestly faster gains of the lowest scoring decile of students on NAEP 
reading and math tests. Note also that in terms of real learning outcomes, 
NAEP reading and math scores may overstate because it too is a standardized 
test with limited assessment capacities and it does not register the effects 
on other components of the wide range of learning goals people have for 
schools.

Monty
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "George Sheridan" <learn@jps.net>
To: "ARN-L" <arn-l@interversity.org>
Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2008 11:25 AM
Subject: [arn-l] state reading and math tests


> NEA's "Opening Bell" newsletter summarized recent reporting on a study by 
> the
> Center on Education Policy on student test scores since enactment of the
> so-called No Child Left Behind Act. If these stories were reported on ARN, 
> I
> missed them.
>
> Test scores have risen since NCLB, report shows.
>
>        The Washington Post (6/25, A2, Glod) reported, "Students are 
> performing
> better on state reading and math tests since enactment of the landmark No 
> Child
> Left Behind law six years ago, according to an independent study released" 
> on
> June 24 by the Center on Education Policy. The report "also found that 
> black and
> low-income students have made gains on those exams, frequently narrowing
> performance gaps with white and middle-income peers."
>
>        "But the law's contributions are hard to measure because a number 
> of
> states already were taking steps to boost reading and math, the study's 
> authors
> say. And because every public school falls under the law, there is no 
> group of
> students to use for comparison," added USA Today (6/25, King). "What the 
> law
> clearly has done -- the change some identify as its most notable 
> benefit -- is
> give researchers and parents the data to track student progress. By 
> requiring
> testing in math and reading every year from third through eighth grade and 
> once
> in high school, the law provides a wealth of information about a school's
> performance over time, broken down by such factors as race, income and
> disability." According to Jack Jennings, president of the Center on 
> Education
> Policy, NCLB does provide "a lot more accountability."
>
> Education Week (6/24, Cavanagh) noted, "The state gains in reading and 
> math were
> not as strong when compared with states' performance on the National 
> Assessment
> of Educational Progress (NAEP), the federally administered test that 
> judges
> states on a common scale." Still, "Mr. Jennings said that, on the whole, 
> the more
> modest state NAEP scores did not undermine the gains reflected in 
> individual
> states' assessments. NAEP scores still 'confirm the general trend,' he 
> said."
>
>        The New York Times (6/24, Medina) also covered the report findings, 
> as
> they pertain to N.Y. schools.
>
> George Sheridan
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