Re: CA State results shed new light on wealth vs. poverty deba...

[Le1212@aol.com]

The questions about the validity of poverty information is important.  I have 
a greater interest in how items are evaluated by CDE and result in a test 
score.
 
I question the accuracy of this year's test scores.  Each year the state 
changes items and decides if the new items are appropriate to include in that 
year's score.  When I checked two years ago, the number, or percentage, of correct 
answers needed for "proficient" performance varied from subtest to subtest 
and from year to year.  
 
This variability seems to be due to the ratings of items by mysterious forces 
within CDE.  They use various statistical measures to evaluate items.  It is 
quite likely that these statistical measures impact how much scores change 
from year to year.  Unless these mysterious forces are put into clear view, 
comparison of scores from year to year is more politic than education.  If they 
truly want teachers to embrace this assessment model, teachers should be allowed 
to see the test's item analysis.  
 
Marc Barlow



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