Posted on 06/25/2008 5:32:32 AM PDT by Amelia
Students are performing better on state reading and math tests since enactment of the landmark No Child Left Behind law six years ago, according to an independent study [by the District-based Center on Education Policy] released yesterday.
[snip]
Because standards vary from state to state, some analysts have questioned the reliability of state tests as a gauge of academic performance.
The study, which included data from 50 states, found that achievement on state reading and math exams has improved in most of them. The trend is largely mirrored on national exams, the study found, although the gains tend to be smaller. One exception was in eighth-grade reading, in which gains on state exams significantly outpaced those on the national test.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
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A lie designed to lull moderates and inattentive conservatives into believing it.
by the District-based Center on Education Policy
The real truth - no "Center on Anything" that is based in DC is anything but a liberal front group. Take it to the bank.
Maybe, but not all. In my state of Tennessee, the Gateway Exams for Algebra, English, History, and Science are required for graduation, and they're being revamped to be harder and more relevant.
A small percentage of my students failed the Algebra Gateway, but well over half scored "advanced" so I'm not sure what to think about the changes.
Students that fail these exams do not get a diploma, they get a "certificate of completion" or something like that... unless they manage to pass the exams on a retake.
A lie designed to lull moderates and inattentive conservatives into believing it.
I haven't read the entire study, just the press release and this article. So far I still think that most of the gains are due to states manipulating their tests to ensure better scores, although this Center seems more optimistic.
I know they changed the cut scores on the GHSGT for Science and English.
Raised it in English and cut it in Science.
But you knew that.:)
I don’t see how that can be... The Dems claim it was never funded.
This is not Bush's fault.
Are the kids learning more though? I’ve heard a lot of anecdotal evidence around here that teachers are being pushed to teach the test fulltime. That drives up passage rights and gives us kids who can fill out bubble sheets but it doesn’t necessarily mean the kids are coming out any better educated or with any better critical thinking skills.
They would never do that.
ping
I doubt any liberal front-group is going to say that anything Bush did was good.
test
I've heard that too, but unless the teachers have a copy of the exact test given and are merely having the kids memorize the answers, the whole teaching the test thing is bull-hockey. (As far as I know, the teachers are not just teaching kids to memorize answers. If they are, they should be fired and the school boards and administrations should be tossed out on their ears.)
Yep, miraculously the science teachers are now doing a better job (or actually, the new standards the state implemented are more effective) and the English teachers still need to work on implementing the new standards!
Amazing, isn't it?
Did you consider most of your students at least competent, and over half "advanced"?
The tests are formulaic though. They have sample questions, essay rubrics, and know what types of questions will be on it. So they teach them to fill out that type of question whether or not that has any bearing on the real world.
Sounds to me like they are teaching kids to write essays, read and do math problems. Not sure what you mean by 'whether or not it has any bearing on the real world.'
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