This spring New York recalibrated their assessment testing within state elementary schools.  Assessments over the past few years have been repeatedly cast into question by national studies.  Jack and Jill were getting B’s  – but could they  fully understand age appropriate material? Were grades inflated in New York state in comparison to the the rest of the USA.

In 2009, 82% of students passed the math test and 69% the English. With the changes implemented in Spring 2010, test results dropped with  just 54% passing math and 42% English.

“It’s devastating how they presented it and how they are doing it,” said James A. Williams, the Buffalo superintendent. “This is moving the goal line. While we were running for a touchdown and we were at the 10-yard line, they moved the goal post 20 yards forward.” Standards Raised, More Students Fail Tests – NY Times July 28, 2010

It was always a requirement that Jack learn to read and write. Clearly those justifying the past need to recognize that the bar wasn’t moved,  it was just a fantasy created by politicians as proof that money in education was being well spent.

Now what was it Dalton McGuinty wanted?  Oh yes, 75% at level 3 across Ontario – in time for the next provincial election.  Should we ponder? Should we scratch our heads?   Yes, I do think we should be focused on the students and not government driven standards.

For More Information:

Standards Raised, More Students Fail Tests – NY Times July 28, 2010

The results were in stark contrast to successes that Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg had heralded in recent years. When he ran for re-election in 2009, he boasted of state test scores that showed two-thirds of city students were passing English and 82 percent were passing math.

But state education officials said that performance was misleading because those scores were inflated by tests that had become easier to pass. The scores released on Wednesday were the first attempt to establish what the officials considered a more trustworthy measure of students’ abilities.