f:\doc\web\2000\08\aera.txt
    Last week, the American Educational Research Association (AERA)
issued a new position statement on high-stakes testing. Though somewhat
contradictory (eg "major decisions shouldn't be made on the basis of a
single test, but if you do . . ."), it is generally a solid set of
guidelines school assessment programs.
    You can find the full text at:
http://www.aera.net/about/policy/stakes.htm
    Not surprisingly, the statement by the nation's largest group of
educational researchers got far less attention than the bleatings of the
latest know-nothing, political convert to the "test everything that
moves" fad. However, the Gannett News Service did move the following
summary with a good, policy-oriented spin:
               HIGH-STAKES TEST RULES PROPOSED
    Washington -- No state currently using high-stakes stesting to
improve K-12 schools would meet the guidelines for testing recently
approved by the American Educational Research Association.
    The 23,000-member group, which represents the nation's education
researchers as well as school district testing experts, this week set
out 12 strict conditions for using the tests.
    "I don't think any state meets the 12," said Harvard education
researcher Catherine Snow, president of the group.
     High-stakes testing, where a child can be held back a year or
denied a diploma for not passing tests, has come under fire for many
groups. A slap from this group may carry extra clout because it
represents the top testing experts.
     One condition set by the group -- "adequate resources and
opportunity to learn" -- takes aim at using high-stakes tests on
children attending inferior schools.
    Many school districts use summer school to make up for those
deficits -- children who fail tests are sent to summer school to make up
the gap. But works only if summer school programs offer high-quality
teaching and small classes, said Snow.
    Another condition is making sure schools use the right tests.
    The worst offender there may be Chicago Public Schools, said Snow,
which uses the Iowa Test of Basic Skills as a gatekeeper for sending
children to summer school or holding them back a grade.
     Said Snow" "That test has a manual saying this should not be used
for the basis of promotion or retention."
      High-stakes testing is part of the standards-based reform
movement, which started out by setting standards for what children
should be learning in each grade. Those standards are followed by tests
to ensure that students actually learn the material.
     But many states offer tests that don't match the curriculum.
     Another problem is states setting the bar too high.




Bob Schaeffer, Public Education Director
FairTest: National Center for Fair & Open Testing


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