Post by title1parent on Aug 9, 2008 6:25:33 GMT -5
www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/1099194,2_1_AU09_TESTS_S1.article
State will recalculate its schools' test scores
August 9, 2008
By John O'connor AP Political Writer
SPRINGFIELD -- Standardized test scores for Illinois public schools must be recalculated to fix an unforeseen scoring mix-up, education officials said Friday.
The work will delay delivery of Illinois Standards Achievement Test scores to school districts for several weeks, perhaps mid-September at the latest, State Board of Education officials said.
But annual school report cards still will be available for release to the public by Oct. 31 as scheduled, they said.
An independent study found a problem with the way scores were evaluated after ISAT test questions were changed for students last spring. But there's nothing wrong with the exam, state schools Superintendent Christopher Koch said.
"We're satisfied with the test at this point," he said. "We're just trying to get accurate scores out this year, as accurate as possible, as soon as possible."
After three years of using the same test questions, authorities changed them this year to prevent any chance of student cheating. But they questioned the process when results in reading and math for students in third through eighth grades varied widely -- up or down, sometimes by double-digit percentage points -- from 2007.
The board hired the Center for Educational Testing and Evaluation to review the situation. Working with test developer Pearson Education, it found an insufficient scientific method was used to ensure different questions between the two years carried the same scoring weight.
State will recalculate its schools' test scores
August 9, 2008
By John O'connor AP Political Writer
SPRINGFIELD -- Standardized test scores for Illinois public schools must be recalculated to fix an unforeseen scoring mix-up, education officials said Friday.
The work will delay delivery of Illinois Standards Achievement Test scores to school districts for several weeks, perhaps mid-September at the latest, State Board of Education officials said.
But annual school report cards still will be available for release to the public by Oct. 31 as scheduled, they said.
An independent study found a problem with the way scores were evaluated after ISAT test questions were changed for students last spring. But there's nothing wrong with the exam, state schools Superintendent Christopher Koch said.
"We're satisfied with the test at this point," he said. "We're just trying to get accurate scores out this year, as accurate as possible, as soon as possible."
After three years of using the same test questions, authorities changed them this year to prevent any chance of student cheating. But they questioned the process when results in reading and math for students in third through eighth grades varied widely -- up or down, sometimes by double-digit percentage points -- from 2007.
The board hired the Center for Educational Testing and Evaluation to review the situation. Working with test developer Pearson Education, it found an insufficient scientific method was used to ensure different questions between the two years carried the same scoring weight.
