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ILEARN scores are back and fewer than half of Indiana's students passed. Here's what's next.


Muda69

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https://www.indystar.com/story/news/education/2019/09/04/indiana-education-schools-ilearn-assessment-test-scores-fewer-half-pass-fail/2197850001/

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Fewer than half of Hoosier students are on track to graduate high school ready for college or a career, according to the state’s controversial new standardized test known as ILEARN.

The results, made public Wednesday, are not necessarily a surprise —  teachers, parents and lawmakers have been sounding the alarm for more than a week — but they raise tough questions about how well Indiana schools are preparing students. 

The new test, a replacement for the much-maligned ISTEP exam, was administered for the first time in the spring of 2018 to all Indiana students in grades 3 through 8.

Statewide, 47.8% of students were rated proficient on math and 47.9% on English. On last year’s ISTEP exam, passing rates for math and English were 58.9% and 64.6%, respectively.

"Fewer than 50 percent of students achieving basic proficiency startles me and concerns me," said David Freitas, member of the State Board of Education. "Not from a blame game, but how do we help schools? How do we help students move forward?"

 

Just 37.1% of students passed both the English and math portions, compared with 50.7% who passed both portions of the ISTEP test last year.

Students in grades 4 and 6 were also given a science portion, which 47.4% of tests-takers passed. Students in fifth grade received a social studies exam; 46% passed.

The results have upset and angered teachers and school administrators, who have a lot on the line when it comes to standardized test results.

 

The scores are tied to teacher evaluations that affect both pay and future job prospects. The state will award letter grades to schools based on the results. Schools that have several years of failing grades could be subject to state intervention.

Jennifer McCormick, state superintendent of public instruction said it's too soon to know what schools' grades would be based on the ILEARN results, but she said it’s likely the state would see unprecedented numbers of D- or F-rated schools.

...

Frankfort Middle School: English: 32.9%, Math: 22:5%, Both: 19.3%      A failing school.  And who is to blame?  Certainly not the administrators and teachers, not in any way, shape or form.  Right?

 

 

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On 9/4/2019 at 8:55 AM, Muda69 said:

https://www.indystar.com/story/news/education/2019/09/04/indiana-education-schools-ilearn-assessment-test-scores-fewer-half-pass-fail/2197850001/

Frankfort Middle School: English: 32.9%, Math: 22:5%, Both: 19.3%      A failing school.  And who is to blame?  Certainly not the administrators and teachers, not in any way, shape or form.  Right?

Insufficient data for meaningful answer.

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38 minutes ago, Muda69 said:

How much data do you need?  FMS was a failing school under ISTEP as well.

 

Not going to get into a back and forth, but this comment along with the others, implying the tests must be valid, is just stupid. There is a LOT of research to counter the claim, so yeah, it is the stupid f’ing test and its authors, along with the Indiana politicians who continue to insist putting such a high priority on it that ARE the problem. 

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14 minutes ago, Irishman said:

Not going to get into a back and forth, but this comment along with the others, implying the tests must be valid, is just stupid. There is a LOT of research to counter the claim, so yeah, it is the stupid f’ing test and its authors, along with the Indiana politicians who continue to insist putting such a high priority on it that ARE the problem. 

As an educational professional what in your learned opinion makes the ILEARN test invalid, and therefore should not be given to students?

 

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9 minutes ago, Muda69 said:

As an educational professional what in your learned opinion makes the ILEARN test invalid, and therefore should not be given to students?

 

Answer this question first and I will respond to that question. As an expert on education matters, why do you feel so strongly that this test and the ISTEP were valid enough....to the point that students should take them? 

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7 minutes ago, Irishman said:

Answer this question first and I will respond to that question. As an expert on education matters, why do you feel so strongly that this test and the ISTEP were valid enough....to the point that students should take them? 

Because IMHO as an Indiana taxpayer funding the government schools there needs to be some objective system to measure student progress and teacher effectiveness.  

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13 minutes ago, Muda69 said:

Because IMHO as an Indiana taxpayer funding the government schools there needs to be some objective system to measure student progress and teacher effectiveness.  

Ok...so how does a test taken by students I never have in class, covering subjects I do not teach show whether or not I am an effective teacher? 

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1 minute ago, Irishman said:

Ok...so how does a test taken by students I never have in class, covering subjects I do not teach show whether or not I am an effective teacher? 

It can't.  Please explain how ISTEP and now ILEARN personally affected/affect your yearly performance metrics/review in your current teaching position.  

 

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17 minutes ago, Muda69 said:

It can't.  Please explain how ISTEP and now ILEARN personally affected/affect your yearly performance metrics/review in your current teaching position.  

 

They count for 15% of my evaluation rating. So instead of being highly effective, it lowered me to just effective on the State scale.  The real impact is felt in a community like Frankfort. I have stated in the past though, all non English speaking students are required to be tested. Each year, as standards have changed by law, more and more students in special ed have to take it. There are also glitches that impact scores. One example.....a school in our district was taking a math test that said no calculators were allowed. The kids in 8th grade logged in and the calculator showed up on their screens. It was reported and Pearson publishing even admitted it was an error on their end. The end result? Those tests were invalidated. That is not the end of the story though. An invalid test counts as a zero for those students. Those zeros lower overall test scores. Those lower test scores impact teacher evaluations. Seeing the picture yet? Again keep in mind, only two subjects in school are tested. The negative impact that testing has had will be felt for YEARS to come. Wonder why people in vocational programs has dropped significantly? Students that fail the tests to graduate are put in remediation classes to be as prepared a possible to pass the next time. That pulls them out of other electives. The testing companies have supplied all the materials for these remediation classes as well. Lots of money to be made. 

Now, you still think the tests are valid? 

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5 minutes ago, Irishman said:

They count for 15% of my evaluation rating. So instead of being highly effective, it lowered me to just effective on the State scale.  

I would file a complaint with my union for such a socialist system.  The failings of your fellow teachers in the same building should not negatively effect your evaluation if none of the subjects you teach are directly or indirectly part of  ISTEP or ILEARN.

8 minutes ago, Irishman said:

 The real impact is felt in a community like Frankfort. I have stated in the past though, all non English speaking students are required to be tested. Each year, as standards have changed by law, more and more students in special ed have to take it. There are also glitches that impact scores. One example.....a school in our district was taking a math test that said no calculators were allowed. The kids in 8th grade logged in and the calculator showed up on their screens. It was reported and Pearson publishing even admitted it was an error on their end. The end result? Those tests were invalidated. That is not the end of the story though. An invalid test counts as a zero for those students. Those zeros lower overall test scores. Those lower test scores impact teacher evaluations. Seeing the picture yet? Again keep in mind, only two subjects in school are tested. The negative impact that testing has had will be felt for YEARS to come. Wonder why people in vocational programs has dropped significantly? Students that fail the tests to graduate are put in remediation classes to be as prepared a possible to pass the next time. That pulls them out of other electives. The testing companies have supplied all the materials for these remediation classes as well. Lots of money to be made. 

Now, you still think the tests are valid? 

Yes, they are better than nothing.  Which appears to be what the ISTA and NEA prefer.

 

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7 minutes ago, Muda69 said:

Yes, I mention the public sector labor union influences on this process and you run away.  Typical.

 

Nowhere near the “typical” willful ignorance on your part. Not at all running away, nice spin though. Just not willing to go back and forth with someone who acts like he knows so much about a topic, yet continually proves he knows nothing. 

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4 minutes ago, Irishman said:

Nowhere near the “typical” willful ignorance on your part. Not at all running away, nice spin though. Just not willing to go back and forth with someone who acts like he knows so much about a topic, yet continually proves he knows nothing. 

No willful ignorance here, Irishman.   Just an Indiana taxpayer who wants some real accountability in our expensive government schools.   ISTEP and and now ILEARN are by no means perfect, but they are a start. 

So you are stating that the ISTA and NEA do not lobby the Indiana State Department of Education and the Indiana Legislature on the behalf of the interests of its members?

 

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