3/23/06
Consider latest standardized test scandal before allocating more money for testing
by Joe Nathan
Given the most recent, multi-million dollar standardized test scandal, Minnesota legislators might want to be a bit leery in handing out more money for tests. Governor Tim Pawlenty has proposed new financial incentives for high schools that use Advanced Placement (AP) or International Baccalaureate courses.
But Educational Testing Service, the group that according to a Tom Ewing, ETS press relations director, ìtakes raw data from AP tests, turns it into a score and then reports results to students,î has just agreed to pay more than $11 million to people because of many errors IT made. The College Board owns AP. ETS helps score it.
Specifically, last week Educational Testing Service acknowledged that 27,000 people who took one of its tests had been given a score that was lower than they deserved. Even worse, about 4100 people were told they had failed ñ when they actually passed!
The ETS- Praxis test had a huge impact on people who took it. Many states (including Minnesota) use the Praxis test to determine whether to give someone a license to teach.
Two members of our family ñ one a current teacher, and one who hopes to be a teacher ñ have taken and passed this test. I can just imagine how they ñ and I ñ would feel if we had been informed incorrectly that they failed the test, and so could not be a licensed teacher.
I looked on the ETS Web site, hoping to find more information. It wasnít thereÖeven under recent press releases.
So I called ETS. Mr. Ewing, Press Relations Director, answered immediately.
We discussed the case. ìWeíve agreed to issue a one paragraph statement, and make no further comment,î he explained. He sent me the statement. It says a Louisiana judge has approved a settlement of $11,100 to settle lawsuits brought by people who had been told they failed, when they really passed. The money will go to cover ìlost wages, decreased earning capacity and other damages.î
Ewing acknowledged, ìUndoubtedly there were Minnesotans affected.î He says that ETS notified everyone affected by this when the mistake was discovered in 2004.
HoweverÖbefore handing any more money to testing companies ñ shouldnít Minnesota legislators demand accountability from them?
Minnesota had a huge standardized testing scandal several years ago. During the Ventura administration, Marty Swaden, a metro area parent, learned that his daughter had failed a test required for graduation.
The Swadens had worked with their daughter, and felt she was prepared. But Minnesota Department of Education officials refused to let them see their daughterís test. The Swadens persisted ñ for months. Finally, MDE showed them the test. Their daughter and many other students HAD passed. Tragically some were denied graduation because of the testing companyís error.
Standardized tests tell us some important things, but of course not everything thatís important about a youngster.
Still, accountability shouldnít apply just to students and schools. Before allocating any more money for tests, shouldnít legislators build in accountability for testing companies?
Joe Nathan directs the Center for School Change at the University of Minnesotaís Humphrey Institute. He welcomes responses: jnathan@hhh.umn.edu
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