Assessment – Page 14 – Embrace the Absurd

20 Questions – Student Proficiency Edition

Some of my fondest childhood memories are of the times spent on family road trips. The time in the car between destinations could have seemed interminable (much like the debate about spring 2021 state testing), but instead was filled with sing-a-longs and games. The sing-a-longs featured an eclectic mix of George M Cohan (Give MyContinue reading “20 Questions – Student Proficiency Edition”

Are You There Data? It’s Me, Charlie

It’s pretty much impossible to engage with any media platform on any topic without someone telling you, “The data speak for themselves!” or perhaps the less pedantic, “The data speaks for itself!” Often, that message is being delivered by a trusted authority like rock star Dr. Fauci (lately, very often). Other times, it may beContinue reading “Are You There Data? It’s Me, Charlie”

Testing-21, Catch-22

As May begins, I feel confident in declaring the end of major combat operations in the war against Spring 2021 State Testing. States are doing what they have decided to do. Parents and students will do what parents and students do. Of course, skirmishes in remote outposts or densely populated strongholds will continue to claimContinue reading “Testing-21, Catch-22”

Teaching Literacy

A Holistic Reframing of Assessment Literacy for Teachers In this post, I summarize a presentation made at the 2021 annual meeting of the New England Educational Research Organization (NEERO). The presentation is based on my paper, Teaching Literacy – A Holistic Reframing of Teacher Assessment Literacy, in which I offer an alternative perspective on teacherContinue reading “Teaching Literacy”

Fidem Scit

My unshakable faith in the value of a Boston Latin School education The school that I love has come under attack. As has been the case periodically over the past forty years, the primary issue is admissions testing, specifically concerns about unequal representation and inequities resulting from admissions testing. Added to the mix this timeContinue reading “Fidem Scit”

Our World Turned Upside Down

The world turned upside down – the phrase referenced in Hamilton to describe the impact of end of the American Revolution seems an apt choice to summarize the current state of affairs in K-12 large-scale testing and educational measurement. The field still cannot seem to get out of its own way when discussing whether annualContinue reading “Our World Turned Upside Down”

Is It Still The Same Boat?

You pick up a lot as you journey through life; and you never know what will be valuable and what will be worthless. Never in a million years would I have guessed when I signed up for an introductory philosophy course my final semester in college that I would encounter a thought experiment that wouldContinue reading “Is It Still The Same Boat?”

What’s Happened, Happened

Spoiler and content warning: This post includes details from the film Tenet and a discussion of the future of large-scale testing which may upset the reader or spoil the movie if you have not seen it. The Armageddon and the Apocalypse are not for the faint of heart. I am not a movie guy byContinue reading “What’s Happened, Happened”

Nothing New Under the Sun

You may view state testing as a monolith, an impersonal political, corporate structure indivisible and uniform, a large single upright block of stone with columns of ovals etched on it and a Pearson logo laser engraved in the bottom left corner. But you would be wrong. The block of stone could just as easily bearContinue reading “Nothing New Under the Sun”

Shove Those Deficits Up Your Assets

I have seen the light! Praise be the ivory tower, I have seen the light! Enough already with talk of learning loss, achievement gaps, and labels like substantially below proficient. Cast off the cloak of deficits and wrap yourself in the warmth of potential and growth. I confess that it took me too long toContinue reading “Shove Those Deficits Up Your Assets”