Return-Path: <[log in to unmask]>
Received: from rly-zd01.mx.aol.com (rly-zd01.mail.aol.com [172.31.33.225]) by air-zd05.mail.aol.com (v82.22) with ESMTP id MAILINZD53-0115113936; Tue, 15 Jan 2002 11:39:36 -0500
Received: from notes.nassmc2.org (p45.t1.rtinet.com [198.68.28.112]) by rly-zd01.mx.aol.com (v83.18) with ESMTP id MAILRELAYINZD11-0115113915; Tue, 15 Jan 2002 11:39:15 -0500
Received: from notes.mmscnet.org ([198.68.28.115])
by notes.nassmc2.org (Lotus Domino Release 5.0.7)
with ESMTP id 2002011511384343:5 ;
Tue, 15 Jan 2002 11:38:43 -0500
Received: from notes.nassmc.org ([198.68.28.111])
by notes.mmscnet.org (Lotus Domino Release 5.0.7)
with ESMTP id 2002011511383841:44 ;
Tue, 15 Jan 2002 11:38:38 -0500
Subject: Testing Systems Not ESEA-Ready in Most States (NBS#1161)(A/A)
To: [log in to unmask]
X-Mailer: Lotus Notes Release 5.0.5 September 22, 2000
Message-ID: <[log in to unmask]>
From: [log in to unmask]
Date: Tue, 15 Jan 2002 11:38:23 -0500
MIME-Version: 1.0
X-MIMETrack: Serialize by Router on Archimedes/NASSMC(Release 5.0.7 |March 21, 2001) at
01/15/2002 11:38:38 AM,
Itemize by SMTP Server on Euclid/MMSC(Release 5.0.7 |March 21, 2001) at 01/15/2002
11:38:38 AM,
Serialize by Router on Euclid/MMSC(Release 5.0.7 |March 21, 2001) at 01/15/2002
11:38:43 AM,
Serialize complete at 01/15/2002 11:38:43 AM,
Itemize by SMTP Server on Archimedes2/NASSMC(Release 5.0.7 |March 21, 2001) at
01/15/2002 11:38:43 AM,
Serialize by Router on Archimedes2/NASSMC(Release 5.0.7 |March 21, 2001) at
01/15/2002 11:39:16 AM,
Serialize complete at 01/15/2002 11:39:16 AM
Content-type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
NATIONAL ALLIANCE OF STATE SCIENCE AND MATHEMATICS COALITIONS
News Brief #1161 Category: Assessment & Accountability
TITLE: "Testing Systems in Most States Not ESEA-Ready"
The federal education legislation signed into law by President Bush this week requires states to start giving annual math and reading tests to students in grades 3-8 no later than the 2005-2006 school year. The tests must be aligned with each state's academic standards.
A survey by Education Week shows that the vast majority of states have a lot of work to do to meet that requirement. Only nine states currently give standards-based tests in both subjects in grades 3-8.
Some states are hoping the federal government will allow them to use a combination of state and local assessments to meet the requirements. Secretary of Education Rod Paige has indicated that such a mixed system might meet the requirements, but only if states establish a process to review and approve local assessments to ensure that they are aligned with academic standards.
Paige has said that data from a mixed system of tests would also have to be compatible enough to allow for comparisons from grade to grade.
The law requires states to use test results to produce individual interpretive and diagnostic reports on students. The results must be broken down by gender, racial and ethnic group, migrant status, English proficiency, disability and income.
A major weakness in the law is its failure to indicate whether tests must be comparable across all grades and schools, said Amy Wilkins, a policy analyst for the Education Trust. "You want the 4th grade teacher to be able to interpret the 3rd grade data, and you won't be able to with this mishmash of tests over time," she said.
SOURCE: Education Week, 09 January 2002 (p. 01)
WEBSITE: http://www.edweek.org/ew/newstory.cfm?slug=16test.h21
____________________________
The NASSMC Briefing Service (NBS) is supported by the National Security Agency (NSA) and ExxonMobil Foundation. Briefs reflect only the opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in the source articles. Click http://nbs.nassmc.org to SUBSCRIBE, COMMENT, or FIND archived NBS briefs. Click http://www.nassmc.org for information about NASSMC. Permission is granted to re-distribute NBS briefs in unmodified form, including header and footer.