The Journal reports that the NM PED is seeking $3M from the legislature to revamp high school testing state wide. (link)
"It needs it. Because students deserve tests that assess and prepare, rather than distress and scare them, their parents, teachers and taxpayers."Two problems. the first; tests assess, they don't prepare.
A thousand tests won't prepare a student to do anything, except perhaps to take more tests.
Second and more importantly; the identification of a student's particular weaknesses has no direct correlation to their remediation. The system is not designed to meet a student's individual needs; no matter how accurately they are quantified.
The system is designed to meet the needs of thirty students sitting in six rows of five; or perhaps five rows of six.
Diagnostic testing in the absence of follow up with meaningful individual interventions, is like a doctor doing a blood test to identify the agent of an infection, knowing full well that s/he has has no antibiotics to treat the infection once it is identified.
Another $3M down the drain.
5 comments:
Diagnostic testing in the absence of follow up with meaningful individual interventions, is like a doctor doing a blood test to identify the agent of an infection, knowing full well that s/he has has no antibiotics to treat the infection once it is identified.
Exactly Ched, well said. Because for as long as there is no administrative audit, the squandering of our tax dollars will continue unfettered, and that is what we need IN THE CLASSROOM! With part of those wasted taxes we could have smaller class sizes, one thing proven to improve student learning.
Those that don't know, should, and those that know should remember (and be disgusted)....
These tests make a whole lot of money for a few people. Follow the money trail to find out who really benefits.
Example 1.... up until about 6 years ago, the teacher's competency tests for licensing in NM was the national Praxis tests. PRaxis was removed as the test of choice and NM wrote and printed, AND SOLD it's own version of Praxis. Now, NM collects the money from novice teachers and gives an inferior version of the test and SOMEONE MAKES A PROFIT.
Example 2.... For ESL students nationwide, a test of choice has been traditionally the LASA testing system. Now it has been replaced by the NMPLA, an inferior test as well. More insidious, this new test is rumored to be easier to pass, and the ESL kids will show progress and flow to the "higher levels" much more fluidly, even though they are not getting a better education. Sure makes admins look good, huh?
THIS WHOLE SYSTEM OF TESTS ARE A MONEY SCAM AND ADMINS USE THE NCLB ACT TO FURTHUR IT.
I GUESS NEXT THEY'LL BE SELLING US BRIDGES AND SNAKE OIL?
---A HS APS educator
I could revamp safety and security for APS with 3 million. That much could buy 40 cars, pay for needed NIMS/ HSPD training and equipment, and even make a small sub-station in the East Mountains. You could transform APS Risk Management into a secondary command post with top notch computers and ongoing continuous improvement of safety policies always happening. They need cars too.
But "we" are gonna spend it this way, because "we" have no say in the matter.
And lest we not forget: the money trail in NCLB Testing leads to Neil Bush. The rest of the $ is the infamous "trickle down!"
Great!It deserve to all students that take diagnostic test especially to all school and university.
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