Appeals aspect of grade 3 retention in NYC

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

After firing several Bd of Ed members, Bloomberg and Klein have their way - one of the most totally discredited approaches in education -- grade retention -- compounded by another - making decisions based on a test score - is enshrined in NYC once again.  The city had a "promotional gates" policy in the 80s, also based on test scores - which was dropped as a failure. Monty 

       

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      March 16, 2004
      Appeals Process Gives Pupils Another Chance
      By ELISSA GOOTMAN
           
      itywide tests for third graders, long a stress-inducing rite of passage, will take on new significance with the approval last night of stiffer requirements for promotion to the fourth grade.

      But an appeals process means that the stakes for those tests will not be quite as high as they first appeared when Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg announced the policy in January.

      The process starts on April 20, when third graders are to take a citywide test in English language arts. On April 27, they will take the citywide math tests.

      Students who score a Level 1, the lowest of four rankings, on either test will be in jeopardy of being left back.

      At that point, teachers can file appeals on behalf of students who they feel deserve to be promoted.

      To start an appeal, teachers must examine other aspects of a student's achievement, including writing samples, class work and the level of books read from classroom libraries. If a teacher can demonstrate from this other work that the student is performing in the high end of Level 2 - the second of the four levels, which is still considered failing - the appeal will be considered in June.

      Students who score Level 1 on one of the citywide tests but Level 3, considered passing, or above on the other test will also be eligible to be considered in June.

      Appeals for children who are not thought to be close to meeting standards will be decided in August, presumably after the children attend a new summer school program.

      The summer school program will also be open to second graders who are lagging academically.

      Teachers' appeals will be considered by principals, who, Chancellor Joel I. Klein announced earlier in the year, can forward appeals they deem worthy to their local instructional superintendents, who will be the final arbiters.

      The city estimates that about 15,000 third graders would be left back based on test scores alone.

      The revisions to the appeals process are the most significant changes Mr. Klein has made to the policy since Mr. Bloomberg announced it.

      Last night, Mr. Klein said the existence of the appeals process invalidated the argument that the new policy would hold back children on the basis of a single test. "The argument about one test is an argument that I think was a red herring this evening, because we had made clear that in addition to repeated testing, we are going to take into account the full panoply of criteria," he said. 

      Critics, however, said the appeals process, while an improvement, did little to ease their concerns. 

      The policy was recently altered to exempt some English as a Second Language students. 



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Monty Neill, Ed.D.
Executive Director
FairTest
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