Friday, February 20, 2009

Standardized Test Results

For the past seven years or so, teachers have been asked to investigate the mountains of papers received by the state regarding NJASK tests. In grades where there were no NJASK, teachers deciphered TerraNova assessments (this year the district is using NJPASS for grades one and two). This is how it works...
  1. Grade level and/or content area teams are formed.
  2. Criteria is explained, i.e., what specific information is the district looking for? Most often, teachers are looking for weaknesses in reported subdomains. A weakness that has often been reported is in the area of mathematics - measurement. So, in that case, the teachers actually tally the number of students in a particular grade level with a weakness in measurement. Every student's record of subdomains are scrutinized for weaknesses, as well as strengths. Numbers are tallied, resulting in subdomain areas that will (moving forward) require a different approach to teaching the content (say, of measurement).
  3. Latitude and longitude studies are done... is there improvement with the same students as they move from grade to grade in the reported weak areas? Is there improvement in one subdomain in a grade level?
  4. Data is gathered resulting in possibly new resources, additional curriculum, professional development, etc.
  5. The following year, the data is again brought out for comparisons to the current scores.
Another usage of standardized test scores, is for student scheduling. NJASK scores are used as a component of a rubric to determine student placement.

Still another use is for the district budget appeal. Scores are displayed for the community to see as a comparison to where the district falls in the state levels. Community members often use this data as a measure of success of the schools. Are we doing a good job? How are we compared to other K-8 districts in our socio-economic group?

Of course, state funding is based on this data.

Standardized test scores also help with placement into Basic Skills Instruction, Gifted and Talented, and I&RS programs.

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