GA test fiasco - a 'solution'?

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

Following on the heels of the GA social studies test fiasco, teachers are re-writing the test specifications. 

A major problem was that the standards are broad, including far more than can plausibly be taught in a year (a common problem in states), meaning that teachers may teach A that is in the standards but the test doesn't cover it, but covers B that the teacher does not teach. Therefore valid inferences cannot be drawn from the test results. 

A solution: focus the standards more. This may mean dropping lots of less significant stuff, cutting what is often a blizzard of details (as they may be doing in GA per this article). But it also may mean something closer to an actual state curriculum. 

While the article says that the teachers want to 'focus on big ideas over memorizing facts' -but can 'big ideas' be assessed in non-trivial ways by a mostly m-c test? If that can be done at all (here, in social studies), states are not doing it, based on the few states that make their tests public. So, a new version of trivial-factization of a somewhat more 'focused' content.... 

And far as I can tell, the 'solution' to the math fiasco will be summer school - tho districts apparently can pretty much promote whomever they want (and do so) regardless of test scores... 

Monty


ajc.com > Metro
Teachers group rewrites social studies standards

By LAURA DIAMOND
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Published on: 05/30/08 
A week after education officials announced that a large number of students failed state social studies exams, a group of teachers tore apart what Georgia requires sixth- and seventh-grade children to learn and teachers to teach.

The extensive revisions written this week will force the state to develop new questions for the Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests.

State officials said Friday they will field-test these questions on next year's sixth- and seventh-grade social studies exams, meaning students' scores from those tests won't count.

It would be the second consecutive year scores for the two exams wouldn't count.

State Superintendent of Schools Kathy Cox threw out this year's results, citing a disconnect between test questions, what the state expects students to learn and what teachers taught. About 71 percent of sixth-graders and 76 percent of seventh-graders failed the tests, according to preliminary results.

Middle schools began using the new social studies curriculum this year. The CRCT exams were based on the more rigorous standards.

Cox convened the teachers' panel to recommend improvements to the social studies standards, which she said were too vague. Once the revisions are approved, other committees will revise the social studies CRCT for sixth and seventh grades - a lengthy process that takes between one to two years.

All those steps can't get done in time for the 2009 social studies test for the two grades to count, said Stephen Pruitt, director of academic standards for the Georgia Department of Education. Pruitt said the state hopes students will take the tests seriously so officials can measure the quality of the new exam.

"We don't want to rush this because it is more important to make sure we do it right," Pruitt said. "We are focusing on the standards first, and that puts everything else in the delay pattern."

Some teachers were relieved that the state is taking its time.

Teachers, parents and students want the state to make changes correctly, rather than quickly, said Tim Callahan, spokesman for the Professional Association of Georgia Educators. Most of the education advocacy group's 72,000 members are teachers.

"Moving along prudently is the right way to do it," he said. "We know there will be bumps in the road as we improve student achievement in Georgia, but we need to minimize the bumps. This will help."

The social studies review committee met Wednesday through Friday at the Georgia Public Broadcasting building in Atlanta. The group's 26 teachers and social studies coordinators, including 11 from the metro area, went through the learning expectations line by line.

"We tore this apart," said Eddie Bennett, supervisor of middle and high school social studies for Cobb County schools. "We looked at it from every angle. You can't teach everything, so you have to zoom in on what matters most."

The group emphasized big ideas over memorizing facts, said Shaun Owen, a sixth-grade social studies teacher from Augusta. For example, instead of requiring students to identify five rivers in Europe, the group suggested making students know two or three and then explain the importance of rivers, such as how they can help trade, she said.

"I think teachers will be pleased with what we did," Owen said. "We narrowed the focus and made clear what's most important for Georgia students to know."

State education department staff will compile the group's work over the weekend and present it Monday to the next group to review the curriculum, the social studies advisory board. This committee includes teachers, college professors and economists who will look at the revisions and offer suggestions.

During its June meeting, the State Board of Education will vote to post the revisions for 60 days for public comment. Then, the teacher review committee will read the comments and make additional changes.

The state board is expected to vote on the new curriculum Aug. 14. By that time, some Georgia districts will have started the new school year.

Once the changes are approved, the state will offer additional teacher training, and other committees will develop CRCT questions for next year's exam, Pruitt said.

Teachers and students will succeed if the state spells out what teachers should teach, Bennett said.

"I'm telling you, I was devastated when all this happened with social studies this year, and I'm not the only teacher that feels this way," Bennett said. "No one wants that to happen again. We're working to make sure it doesn't."

Monty Neill, Ed.D.
Deputy Director
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