\doc\web\99\01\wva.txt Date: Mon, 04 Jan 1999 16:44:03 -0800 To: arthurhu@mail1.halcyon.com From: James Burts More nice analysis of West Virginia rules which demand that all students perform above the bottom 50%. WA rules are not quite this goofy, but it would not surprise me. If reform accomplishes nothing else, they should at least require all graduating seniors to know the meaning of 50th percentile, and why you can't expect everybody to score higher. >Date: Mon, 4 Jan 1999 14:26:11 -0500 >From: "75713,1375" <75713.1375@compuserve.com> >Subject: West VA STW stds? >Sender: "75713,1375" <75713.1375@compuserve.com> >To: James Burts >Cc: "[ >X-MIME-Autoconverted: from quoted-printable to 8bit by mail1.halcyon.com id MAA32407 > >my comments follow each quoted section. Julanne you can FW to Arthur, all >my mail to him gets bounced. Fw to anyone else worthwhile if any. > >Message text written by James Burts >> >>8.1.4. Creation of a portable credential for graduates that would be >>recognized by >>employers. The Department of Education is developing such a credential >>which may be the >>electronic portfolio. The availability of a portable credential is >>expected for the school year >>1998-99. >> >>b. Assessment of student proficiencies. All students are, at a minimum, >>expected to >>achieve at the 50th percentile at the eleventh grade level on the >>norm-referenced >>component of the statewide assessment program in order to qualify for a >>warranty >>signifying their mastery of basic skills. See section 8.2. of Policy >>2510. > >all students are to do better than half of the students? This must be "new >math" like Arthur/Julanne said. Or the standard is irrelevantly low. > > >>8.2.12. Guidelines for work-based learning in counties with few >>opportunities for >>employment. Section 7.2.8. of Policy 2510 requires county boards of >>education to develop >>policies and procedures for work-based learning. The Department of >>Education will >>prepare a resource document that will contain guidelines to assist >>county boards of >>education in implementing work-based learning experiences. > >Make-work, FDR/communist style? Aside from the philosophical >considerations, what's this going to cost? What will the unions of >displaced workers say? > > >>8.2.13. Electronic portfolio of student accomplishments and preparation. >>It is anticipated >>that an electronic portfolio will be available for use by county boards >>of education for the >>school year 1998-99. >> >>12.1.1. Assessment of student readiness for college or other >>postsecondary education. >>Once the electronic portfolio system is established, the higher >>education governing boards >>will establish a system to communicate to the State Board and the >>legislative commission >>on education accountability the number of West Virginia public school >>graduates entering >>public higher education institutions in West Virginia within one year of >>graduation whose >>electronic portfolio indicated readiness for college or other >>post-secondary education but >>whose knowledge and skills were below the minimum expected level for >>full preparation as >>defined by the higher education governing boards. (See section 12.1. >>above) The State >>Board will establish procedures to convey this information to the high >>schools in the state. > >"...graduates whose portfolio indicated readiness but whose >knowledge/skills weren't ready..."?? So they're admitting that the >portfolios are about something other than knowlege and skills? Teachers are >taught to put intrusive family observations in them; and my wife was told >by her portfolios professor to write term papers - and, of greater concern, >sample letters to parents - favoring portfolios. How many of these coerced >letters and papers are being shown to real parents and the public? > > >>5.1.19. Work-based learning experiences aligned with classroom >>instruction are >>provided for all students during at least one year in grades 9-12. >>(effective for students >>entering grade 9 in 1999-2000) (Policy 2510) > >On the bright side: maybe now they can't teach students to hate employers >or to view them as bourgeois oppresors who must be fought, resisted, and >destroyed; nor can they easily teach (under cover of self-esteem, >relativism, etc) the excusal of poor working habits. Or will they find a >way to still teach these as part ofa work-prep education? > > >>5.6.23. A county warranty seal, stamp, or other appropriate symbol is >>awarded to every >>student who has achieved a proficiency level of the 50th percentile at >>grade 11 on the >>West Virginia Board of Education approved standardized achievement test >>in the area of >>reading, mathematics, or language indicating competency for a basic >>skills warranty. >>Every student who scores at or above the 70th percentile at grade 11 in >>reading, >>mathematics, or language on the West Virginia Board of Education >>approved >>standardized achievement test is awarded a warranty for competency for >>advanced work >>place positions and entry into post-secondary education. (Policy >>2510) >>< > >New math again, as Arthur said. What of the 50% of kids who by definition >didn't meet the 50th %ile mark? Maybe they can make a healthy living >playing poker or craps against the expert statistician who wrote this bill. >And what does that seal say? 666? >I know this isn't what they mean by warranty, but I had to ask: who >warrants it? What if the student indeed fails to perform up to spec? Who >does the repair/replacement? Does the warranty cover incidental damage? >Etc. (Note Alexandria or Fairfax VA schools seriously plan to issue such a >warranty; I have the Wash post and AP articles but haven't read em; I'll >see if they're 12000 mile or 36000, bumper to bumper or drivetrain only, >etc) > .