In Ontario, the test scores have risen, but the tests are under fire:
Standardized test scores released Wednesday show Ontario students are improving, but the elementary teachers' federation says the tests are a waste of money while the NDP says the politicians "cheated."The 2004-05 tests found that 59 per cent of Grade 3 students met or surpassed the provincial standard in reading (up five per cent from the previous year). The result was 61 per cent in writing (up three per cent) and 66 per cent in math (up 2 per cent). The Grade 6 results also show improvements...
So what's the problem? The teachers' foundation says the resources used for tests would be better spent on instructional support. The "cheating" charge flows from recent changes to the test that included shortening the length and allowing more calculator usage. Could this have made the items easier? Most definitely, if this exam was not equated to earlier ones to account for the changed rules. Depending on the extent of the modifications, one could argue that the exam has changed so dramatically that this year can't really be compared with previous years, even after equating has been done.
Posted by kswygert at October 20, 2005 03:58 PM