VERMONT ANON COMPLAINS NEW STANDARDS READING TEST SHOCKINGLY DIFFICULT EVEN FOR BEST STUDENTS \doc\web\99\05\nsre.txt "The questions were so high level that even my stellar writers and readers looked at me with a blank face. I felt betrayed as a teacher!! " Can she give us specfic example of why the New Standards tests are so hard? Other experts I have on line that are gathering evidence that the new generation of tests are ridiculously difficult and inappropriate are gerald bracey gbracey@erols.com george cunningham gkcunn01@ulkyvm.louisville.edu Richard G. Innes <70224.434@compuserve.com> check out my assessment page at http://www.leconsulting.com/arthurhu/washtest.htm The Boston Globe has also carried stories about tests being inappropriate for grade level. From: Nanny714@aol.com Date sent: Tue, 23 Mar 1999 23:12:29 EST To: arthurhu@halcyon.com Subject: Need Help/NSRE > Arthur, > I recieved the following response from a Vermont teacher who wishes to > remain anonymous. Can you send direct me to some resources and/or information > that can assist her? > Nancy > "The information you sent me regarding the NSRE is just the ammunition I > need to present to my superintendent. We just gave the practice tests, > to the tune of $800.00 but of course there is no money for low level > paperbacks. The questions were so high level that even my stellar > writers and readers looked at me with a blank face. I felt betrayed as > a teacher!! Then to top it all off, we were required to go to a state > calibration session for the new "draft" of the writing rubrics. I > insisted that the scores come back to us personally and not to the > district because this was the first time we have seen these rubrics and > how can we be calibrated on them !!"