[Mpls] RE: Dr. Peebles

[Michael Atherton]

Dorian Eder wrote:
 
>  According to the MN Dept of Education Website, the MN SOLOM, Basic 
>  Skills Test and MN Comprehensive Assessmnets are all required by the 
>  state, both to comply with NCLB and our own state policy.  It's my 
>  understanding that MPS also requires the NALT tests, and I have been 
>  told that they do this because it provides the best measure 
>  of progress among students and cohorts, not just a 'snapshot' of what 
>  the kids knew on testing day.  So, you are right in that the NALT test is 
>  required in addition to the others, but I think it's the only one.  Can 
>  someone from the school board or who works in assessment at MSP answer 
>  this more fully?

The type, frequency, and quality of testing is another discussion.
My point was that NCLB is not the only force motivating the testing
of students in the public schools.  Obviously, the State and the District
see value in monitoring the progress of students. I would agree with
many parents that testing should be not be too intrusive, but
irrationally disparaging testing ignores its benefits.  There are
many people who would prefer that the performance of the schools not
be public knowledge. The major strategy of NCLB is to provide
public information which will then motivate educational reform
(and it is).

I think that it is the responsibility of the MPS to work with the
State to try and reduce the number of required tests. It's my
suspicion that the MPS use additional tests just for CYA. NCLB 
left the details of test design up to the States (a big mistake in 
my opinion), so the content and type of test is flexible.

Michael Atherton
Prospect Park