State Board Criticized for Downplaying Low Student Test Scores
Parents across California are up in arms over proposed changes to the descriptions of their children’s scores on the Smarter Balanced assessments. The State Board of Education is under fire for potentially misleading parents into believing their kids are performing better than they actually are.
Parent Focus Groups Speak Out
The California Department of Education is organizing three online focus groups to gather feedback from parents, teachers, and students regarding the proposed changes to how students’ scores are reported. This move comes after the State Board delayed the adoption of the revisions due to mounting criticism over unclear language.
During a recent board meeting, members heard from children’s advocacy groups who slammed state officials for not consulting with teachers and parents before making any changes. The Alliance for Students penned a letter expressing concerns that the new language would only serve to confuse the data and make it harder for families to advocate for underserved students.
Expert Insights and Proposed Solutions
Sarah Lillis, the executive director of Teach Plus California, emphasized the importance of getting the terms right to ensure that assessment scores are useful to parents and teachers. Lindsay Tornatore from the California County Superintendents echoed the sentiment, highlighting the need for better outreach to parents and families.
The proposed changes aim to provide clearer descriptions of students’ performance levels, with new labels such as “Advanced,” “Proficient,” “Foundational,” and “Inconsistent.” However, critics argue that these terms may still be confusing for families, leading to misconceptions about their children’s academic achievements.
Media Misrepresentation
Smarter Balanced representatives have blamed the news media for perpetuating misunderstandings about the current labels. Linda Darling-Hammond, president of the California State Board of Education, clarified that students at different performance levels demonstrate varying degrees of knowledge and skills.
Rob Manwaring, a senior adviser to Children Now, raised concerns that the new labels could widen the gap between parents’ perceptions of their children’s academic performance and reality. A recent parent survey revealed that many parents overestimate their children’s proficiency based on report cards, highlighting the importance of accurate and transparent reporting.
As the debate rages on, parents, educators, and advocacy groups are calling for clarity and transparency in how student test scores are communicated. The ultimate goal is to empower families to support their children’s academic success while holding schools and districts accountable for providing quality education.
