What’s the Magic Number?

Dear Ed Inquiry,

Is  95% a magic  number needed for statistical accuracy when it comes to standardized testing? I read in an article from Texas that 6% or more missing scores means they cannot use the results. It skews the results. Do our brilliant number crunchers follow the same train of thought?

And I know that the term EOC term is now being interchanged with the district created CCE’s (just to add confusion I’m sure). There has to be a clear line drawn between the two tests. Navistar is/was the software for the state test and Performance Matters is the software for the District. Is that consistent throughout the state on the district software? The parents may be confused by it but you know the kids know the difference.

BTW, I heard we are getting Google Chrome Pads district wide for testing purposes. They are cheaper and easier to configure since they are only web browsers. And since all the tests are cloud based, it’s all we need. I think this is the very first tech decision I have ever agreed with on the district’s part.

I know I’m rambling, but I need answers. I don’t do well waiting. I think I have an idea to opt out of EOC’s for this year, but I haven’t put all the info together yet. Still researching, because after school starts, I won’t have time. I like to go all in!

Sincerely,

What’s the Magic Number

Dear What’s the Magic Number,

To start, 95% IS a magic number, but not exactly for the reasons you have been led to believe.  The 95% is so schools test everyone. In the past, schools would only test their best students, which does skew the results.   SO the 95% rule was put in place to ensure that schools tested everyone, not just their high flyers.  However, it also magically ensures that testing companies can pay their bill, as does the re-testing of the kids who fail to earn the cut scores.   If a smaller sample size was tested, their profits would decrease exponentially.  Click here for more on the messy legislation that started this over-testing extravaganza.  

As far as district CCE’s (Common Course Exams) and state EOC’s (End of Course Exams) go, districts started using the CCE’s as a way to progress monitor and see how the students would fare on the EOC’s and other state assessments.  But, you are fair in your assessment that the difference between these has become less and less clear.  Every state and district will use different software, but none are free of glitches, most of which create huge burdens on individual schools to work out.  In addition, any high-stakes test takes instructional and creative time away from the students. Period. Read more about the stress this causes in last weeks’ Ed Inquiry, High Stakes = High Stress. 

It’s great that you are all getting Google Chrome books. However, it would be better for students to use them for student engagement, inquiry and creating something, rather than testing purposes. It always strikes me as curious when the only time we decide to spend money on cool technology is to aid and abet the testing agenda.  This is not how our student dollars need to be spent! 

We are categorizing each EOC and the penalty or lack of penalty for boycotting each one at our free webinar coming up this Sunday. Click here to sign up if you haven’t already: Boycott Webinar.  

Thanks for your diligence in seeking answers!

Ed Inquiry