Statistical Soapbox

OKLAHOMA CITY (January 25, 2011) -- New results from the 2009 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) released today show most Oklahoma students are not proficient in science. Seventy-two percent of Oklahoma fourth-graders taking the test and 75 percent of eighth-graders taking the test fell below “proficient” - meaning they scored at “basic” or “below basic.”
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Janet Barresi said the scores come just as Oklahoma students are entering a new testing period for NAEP, beginning this week and running until March 4. Barresi urged the more than 300 Oklahoma schools selected for NAEP testing to ensure that teachers and parents understand the critical importance of the exams.
The science assessment is administered to a sample of students from each state by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), which is an arm of the U.S. Department of Education. NAEP measures students‟ knowledge and abilities in the areas of physical science, life science, and Earth and space sciences. Only 28 percent of Oklahoma fourth-graders scored at “proficient” or “advanced,” while only 24 percent of eighth-graders scored at the same levels. In each case, Oklahoma scored four percentage points below the national average."

Okay...just a few point to ponder tonight about this article because it really irritates me. 

The test is not designed to be used as a gauge for states to use. That is not the purpose of this assessment. That is why it is only given to a sample of students. It is not based on a curriculum. It is not a test you prepare kids for or teach towards. It was originally designed to identify the top 20% of students.  I think the fact that we were so close to the national average is a positive thing, not something to be ignored or down played to use to support ones agenda.  And if a person in a political office is going to use such data, I would appreciate a little bit more back ground knowledge.  Don't let it become a scare tactic and use it for the shock value.






Oh...and maybe define the terms.  It might be important to know that "basic" means that they have a fairly good understanding, but are not in the upper 25%.  "Basic" doesn't mean "failed."  Again, once you understand the purpose and goals of the test, you have a better understanding of the terminology. 

In fact - the 4th grade test in any given subject can pull content from the listed science topics at anywhere from a 1st grade to 8th grade level. The 8th grade test pulls from 4th grade through 12th grade material.  It is the same for all the content areas. 

SO...imagine your 4th grader shows up at school one day. Her district has been "randomly" chosen out of those in her state, her school has been "randomly" chosen out of those in her district, and then she has been "randomly" chosen out of her peers to take a test. She is ushered out of her class, with probably little to no notice and put in a room with other randomly selected students and given a test in a format and with content she may never have seen.

If I have a state mandated, district supported curriculum that may or may not match up to the NAEP framework (the vague outline for all that could possibly be on the test)...which do I teach?  If the NAEP test gives open ended, free response questions and all we give in our state is multiple choice, what will our students be comfortable with?

My irritation is not the test itself but when politicians and states use the statistics to bolster their own agenda with little to no regard for the meaning. We, as a consuming public in general, are not very well informed sometimes and politicians (ON both sides) use this to their advantage. It really bothers me.

Do our public schools need a face lift?  Absolutly!!  

Do we need national standards and national assessments?  Absolutely.  


Do we need to increase the rigor and quality of those standards?  Heck Yes! 


Do we need to hold teachers AND students accountable?  Well of course!

Do we have any clue how to do that effectively?  Apparently not.


Does any body have a magic wand?!?  :)  


:) I am done.  I really do love being a teacher.  I just get irritated sometimes.