39 = 55 in Regent math test

New York Daily News ^ | August 30, 2003 | JOE WILLIAMS

[sarcasm]

Question: When is 39 a passing grade? Answer: When it's the Math Regents exam.

A new scoring system announced yesterday suddenly transformed hundreds of failing grades on June's Math A Regents into passing grades.

So many students flunked the test that state Education Commissioner Richard Mills threw out the scores, allowing schools to substitute coursework grades for the Regents scores.

A new scoring table was released yesterday that establishes a grading curve based on the June 2002 test.

"It holds this year's students to the same standards as the ones to which the June 2002 students were held," Mills said. "It essentially corrects for the anomalies of the June 2003 exam."

Under the new grading system, a junior or senior who scored a 39 would have a revised score of 55, which is a passing grade.

Based on projections using 400 of the state's 700 school districts - not including the city - 80% of ninth-graders would receive passing grades, up from 61% under the original scoring.

The new scales' precise impact on city scores is not known; the city Education Department was still adjusting the scores and could not say how many more failing students would now pass.

In the city, about 26% of students who took the test originally passed. In 2002, 51% passed.

Among seniors in New York State - again, excluding city students - 55% of students will now pass the exam, up from the unadjusted rate of 28%.

An independent panel of math experts appointed by Mills found this week that the statewide test was too hard.

The panel, which is working to improve future tests, found the exam had no trigonometry questions, which was unfair to students who spent a lot of time preparing for that subject. It also noted there were three questions on the Pythagorean theorem, which it deemed a bit much for students who don't understand it.

[Brandon]

It also noted there were three questions on the Pythagorean theorem, which it deemed a bit much for students who don't understand it.

Please tell me this is from the Onion. Are New York State officials seriously and without embarrassment saying that there are students in their schools who they feel are ready to receive high school diplomas who do not understand the Pythagorean Theorem?????

[patj]

I didn't know that 55 was a passing grade. Never was when I was in school. It can't be that the children aren't being taught or aren't studying, it must be the fault of the test. Everything "for the children" unless it is holding them responsible.

[Nitro]

I had to get a 75 in my Catholic High School to pass a Regents Exam.

The thing is, instead of whining about fairness...

I was running on the Track Team and studying at night.

Guess what, I got my "Letter" in track and I got a Regents Diploma from NY State!!

[sarcasm]

a² + b² = c² is a difficult concept for some.

[sarcasm]

I never bothered to request my Regents Diploma - when I graduated the NYC Academic Diploma was considered to be far superior.

[lainde]

This is truly pathetic. Is this some smoke and mirrors so they can keep federal funds?

[coincheck]

nothing like lowering the bar a little bit more. soon all the student will have to do is be able to write their name on the answer sheet and get a passing grade for math and spelling (thanks to forty years of demonrat control of the house of representitives(sp) and the senate, and the dept. of education,our education system went from first to worst.)
coincheck

[sarcasm]

Is this some smoke and mirrors so they can keep federal funds?

How dare you question their motive - it's for the children.

[lainde]

Sometimes I just can't read the news anymore. This has been a particularly discouraging week. I'm in California waiting for Davis to initiate his scorched earth policy with "virtual gay marriages" and drivers licenses for illegals. Soon to be followed by the proposed CITY "income tax" in Los Angeles. I'm trying to keep perspective did anything good happen on the political front this week? Probably time for a FreeRepublic break and go smell the roses...Thank God for my family, health and GWB!

[Nitro]

Is this some smoke and mirrors so they can keep federal funds?

Yes, it is...

if the demon-rats can't edcucate them...

they can only elect them.

While, a Conservative would jail them.

Have a day!!

[Excuse_My_Bellicosity]

Please tell me this is from the Onion. Are New York State officials seriously and without embarrassment saying that there are students in their schools who they feel are ready to receive high school diplomas who do not understand the Pythagorean Theorem?????

No joke. I learned that in the 5th grade. Too advanced for high school? But remember, homeschooling is evil. It's better to send them to the liberal re-education camps called public schools where they learn nothing.

[TruthShallSetYouFree]

"It holds this year's students to the same standards as the ones to which the June 2002 students were held," Mills said. "It essentially corrects for the anomalies of the June 2003 exam."

English translation: "When the kids couldn't pass a simple test in 2002, we graded on a steep curve. This year, we tried to grade the students fairly, but, since we never taught them anything, very few of them passed. So, we are going back to the same soft measuring stick we used the year before."

[Smber]

"An independent panel of math experts appointed by Mills found this week that the statewide test was too hard."

Who are these "experts"?

"It also noted there were three questions on the Pythagorean theorem, which it deemed a bit much for students who don't understand it."

So, the Pythagorean Theorem may be too difficult for a high-schooler to understand. Absolutely incredible!!!!!! Actually, they can all get government jobs when they finally "earn" their diploma. A government job is all that they could handle anyway.

[Salman]

Halloween is Christmas. 31 Oct == 25 Dec.

Three one (octal) equals two five (decimal).

[MarkL]

When I graduated highschool, way back in 1980, the "regents classes" were pretty much like AP or honors classes... And there was NO REQUIREMENT to actually take the regents tests. My serior year, I took three regents tests, and passed all three. They were tough, but then they were supposed to be tough.

Yet another example of "dummbing education down" so that a) kids don't lose their self esteem, and b) the people in charge of the schools don't have to deal with the fact that they're destroying generations of our future!

Mark

[jos65]

Anamolie's?.........hockey puck.

The kids have duped the establishment once again.

Been there,saw that.

[PallMal]

It also noted there were three questions on the Pythagorean theorem, which it deemed a bit much for students who don't understand it

This is nuts.

First of all, you don't need to really "understand" the theorem. All you have to do is remember a simple formula, know how to label a right triangle with three meansly numbers, and you have gimme points for a correct answer.

What really is going on is that these students do not understand sixth/seventh grade algebra which may be required to ultimately solve the problem. Instead of coming out and saying that these students lack the knowledge of junior high algebra, these hucksters mention "Pythagorean Theorem" so as to give the illusion that the questions are difficult.

[livius]

Here is Florida, the NAACP is attempting to sue because "too many" black kids failed the FCAT, our standardized test. Bear in mind that this is the most minimal of tests, and that they have had three years to take it and pass it. The schools have been working diligently, and the pass rate has risen over the last three years.

Furthermore, the kids can re-take it, and they can go to all sorts of special classes for help and tutoring. (They don't, of course.)

The NAACP argues that these kids can't pass the test, but that they should be given high school diplomas anyway because while they lack basic math and reading skills, they have "different skills." Exactly what these "skills" are is a mystery. But the NAACP is putting great pressure on Florida to throw out the tests (it has already relaxed them).

This certainly does not affect black kids only. But it's disgusting to see a group that should be trying to encourage excellence rushing forward to encourage failure and ignorance.