  |
| |
|
Math tests prove problematic NYSUT wants your opinion on grades 3--8 exams March 30, 2006 Administration of the first-ever statewide mathematics tests for grades 3-8 proved to be more challenging than expected — at least for test administrators. Perforations for some of the rulers were misaligned; questions on the test sampler were mistakenly repeated on the seventh- and eighth-grade exams; and one school's scores will be disqualified because a field test was photocopied and distributed to students. "Clearly, the states were rushed by the federal government's mandate to administer grade 3-8 testing by 2006," said New York State United Teachers Vice President Maria Neira. "This placed an undue burden on the testing companies and the State Education Department, as well as teachers and students." To get a statewide view from members, Neira said the union's Division of Research and Educational Services will post an online survey of the math tests this week. It will be available at www.nysut.org/standards. "We'd like to hear from as many math teachers as possible, with broad representation geographically and across grade levels," Neira said. The survey, which will be similar to one conducted last month on the ELA exam administered in January, is open to anyone involved with test preparation, administration and scoring. Survey questions are based on concerns that NYSUT has received from local leaders, teachers and committee members. It should take only 10 or 15 minutes to complete. "The results from our ELA survey were very revealing and we have already passed on our concerns to the State Education Department on ways to improve the testing system," Neira said. "Our members are on the front lines of this massive testing effort." In fact, the problem with the rulers was brought to SED's attention after Carla McLaud, a Pine Bush math teacher and NYSUT Board member, alerted the union. On March 22 SED reported that the perforations for some of the rulers for the grade 5 math test were misaligned, so that when students punched them out, a small section might have been missing. In light of this, the department posted an acceptable range of measurement for two questions. (For example, the perimeter of the octagon could be between 20 and 28 centimeters.) As New York Teacher went to press, SED was still reviewing the grades 6, 7 and 8 math tests to determine if the rulers were similarly flawed. SED advised teachers involved in the scoring of the grades 6-8 tests to check www.emsc.nysed.gov/3-8/latest/update06.htm during the week of March 27 before scoring begins to see if further scoring clarifications have been issued. Other scoring changes are expected for the middle-level exams. On the second day of testing, SED issued a memo explaining that three multiple-choice questions on the grade 7 test and one multiple-choice question on the grade 8 test were repeats of questions on sample tests widely circulated around the state. SED advised schools to continue administering the tests and urge students to do their best. State officials said they would determine how to deal with the problem when the makeup period for the tests ended on March 24 (as New York Teacher was going to press). "We will provide guidance on how this will be accounted for in the final scoring in a way that is fair to students, schools and districts," the memo stated. "We're working closely with the State Department of Education to investigate what transpired, and we'll also work closely with them on an effective solution," said Kelley Carpenter, a spokeswoman at CTB/McGraw-Hill in Monterey, Calif. The firm prepared both the samplers and the actual tests under a five-year $22.5 million contract with the state. Field tests are secure exams In a narrower problem, a suburban Albany district was investigating an apparent security breach on the grade 3 mathematics assessment at one of its elementary schools. SED said students were given portions of what were believed to be practice tests but were, in fact, photocopies of official state field tests given last May. Five questions on the field tests subsequently appeared on the actual assessment administered to students on March 8. SED has informed the district that all of the students who participated in the practice tests will have their scores on the official grade 3 math assessment negated due to "test administration error." SED requires schools to administer field tests, designed to test the validity of questions that may be used in the future, under strict security measures that involve returning every test booklet to the state upon completion of the test. In addition, teachers who proctor the field tests and the principal of the school must sign a security statement confirming the proper handling of all test materials. — Sylvia Saunders |
|
| | |