A FairTest review of published data from the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) reveals that students were less likely to reach a level of «proficient» or higher on the NAEP math or reading tests in states which had
mandatory high school graduation tests.
Gov. Dirk Kempthorne of Idaho promised to focus attention on students who failed to pass a
new high school graduation test, and announced support for a controversial pay - for - performance program for teachers, in his State of the State Address last week.
The answers to those questions implicate a wide range of related policy decisions — including the number, types, and passing scores
on high school graduation tests; whether a state should have two diplomas (one indicating college - readiness, one indicating career - readiness); and how career certifications are vetted and approved.
States that are reluctant to implement a high -
stakes high school graduation test might want to look at the old Regents end - of - course exam system as a possible model for a moderate - stakes student accountability system.
These mandatory state assessments include the Criterion - Referenced Competency Tests (CRCT), End - of - Course Tests (EOCT),
Georgia High School Graduation Tests (GHSGT), Georgia Writing Assessments (above) as well as:
Navigio — The validity problem due to lack of appropriate implementation stems primarily from the «opportunity to learn» requirement for large scale high stakes tests that was advanced in the late 70's for the first
statewide high school graduation tests, with that requirement established by the courts in 1978 and having held up for more than 35 years for the design and implementation of all large scale K - 12 tests.
In addition, states
with high school graduation tests were less likely to show statistically significant improvement in their students» scores than were states without such tests.
The data reveal a strong and clear negative relationship between having a
mandatory high school graduation test (HSGT) and having a greater than the national average percentage of students reaching the «proficient» level or better.
Governor had proposed in January that legislature appropriate $ 5 million for remedial education for 10th graders who hadn't yet passed state's
high school graduation test and $ 500,000 to enable students to take the Preliminary SAT for free.
In testimony submitted to the Joint Committee on Education / Ways and Means, FairTest Deputy Director Monty Neill, Ed.D., wrote, «More than two decades of evidence demonstrates that
high school graduation tests are the wrong prescription for what ails public education.»
Perhaps tests like the SAT or
high school graduation tests would be a better measure.