I've not been paying attention to the most recent round of articles blaming ETS and the College Board for the fact that test prep companies are set to see profits rise because of the new SAT. For starters, I'd think it was crystal clear to most observers that the testing companies have no control over what the test prep companies charge, and that most if not all testing companies offer prep material for free or at a very small price. It's asinine to blame the College Board for the fact that some test prep companies charge four-figure sums.
What's more, the complaint that tests scores rise with familial income has little to do with the cost of test prep, and everything to do with the fact that children from wealthier families are likely to have a top-notch educational experience in every sense. Even though I don't support the for-profit testing industry, it's not Princeton Review that produces the income gap.
This is a new one on me, though:
Make no mistake about it, profits loom foremost in the minds of many of the 'standardistos' and other so-called education 'reformers.'
Eh? Those of us who want to reform education are the same as those charging $1000 a pop for test prep courses? We somehow all profit from that? Where the heck's my check?
From blaming ETS for the cost of test prep, to insisting that test prep money funds those of us supporting the use of standardized testing - the march of anti-testing hysteria continues.
(Thanks to Devoted Reader Triticale for the link.)
Posted by kswygert at March 7, 2005 06:56 PM