Angela
Posts:
355
Registered:
12/3/04
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Re: Pathetic
Posted:
Jun 24, 2010 8:24 PM
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Well said, Jonathan!
--- On Thu, 6/24/10, Jonathan <jd2718@gmail.com> wrote:
From: Jonathan <jd2718@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: Pathetic
To: nyshsmath@mathforum.org
Date: Thursday, June 24, 2010, 8:03 PM
With all due respect,
I've served on that committee. Pearson forced us to sign a confidentiality agreement, and then refused to clarify what parts of the process were covered by the agreement, so I will try to be careful.
But the very existence of the committee calls into question the competence of the SED people responsible for creating the curriculum (or non-curriculum) and the assessment.
James, is the Algebra exam a measure of whether kids know "Algebra?" Is it a measure of whether kids know enough to move on to the next level of mathematics? Is it a measure of whether kids know a NY State course called "Integrated Algebra"? Is it a measure of whether a kid knows enough math to be graduated from high school?
We know, or we should know, that none of these is correct. The Integrated Algebra regents measures how well kids perform on the Integrated Algebra regents. Nothing else.
There is no reason to give this test, except that SED requires it. It does not measure a useful subset of mathematics. It does not measure ability to function mathematically in the real world.
So when they asked me to help set a cut score on a useless exam, I asked them what the value of the exam was. I asked if it was for measuring algebra or readiness to graduate. And I told them that if they can't answer that question, they should not be testing kids.
Where we set the cuts is irrelevant if the tests are meaningless. And relevant only to numbers graduating if the only real meaning this test has is no pass = no graduate.
Standard setting, with all due respect to the people who give up their time, standard setting for a horrible test is a horrible charade.
Jonathan Halabi
HS of American Studies
the Bronx
On Thu, Jun 24, 2010 at 10:12 AM, James Burrell <jr.burrell3@gmail.com> wrote:
Meaning no disrespect, unless one has served on the Standards Setting Committee, one has no clue what goes into the making of a recommendation, from NYS teachers, to the Commissioner regarding the cut points for 65 and 85.
On Thu, Jun 24, 2010 at 7:15 AM, <msedfun@aol.com> wrote:
Well...I'll say it again. It is disgusting that the state has to wait to see what raw scores were before deciding on a cut score. This demonstrates how state is trying to manipulate information to demonstrate that their new program is *better* for the students and will result in increased passing rates. In reality, as we all know, the cut off for IA is so low that it proves nothing in terms of a student's ability to go to for higher math. The state must go back to preparing tests based on 100 points and having a *true* grade that reflects a student's actual, not manipulated, ability.
I am so disgusted. How come the U.S. Department of Ed doesn't come in and clean house here? It would be welcome.
Sharon
-----Original Message-----
From: John Keller <johnkeller@verizon.net>
To: nyshsmath@mathforum.org
Sent: Thu, Jun 24, 2010 6:01 am
Subject: Pathetic
Still no cut scores early Thurs am. Think they're still working on them, or
just didn't get around to posting them after hours last night? What a sad state
of affairs this whole Regents cut score experience is. I'm still spinning about
kids getting grades in the 70's on the IA exam after leaving virtually all of
the free response questions blank.
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