According to Kavips (posted on August 1st):
It has been 7 days now that the Delaware Department has sat on the results of the Smarter Balanced Assessments. Day one was the release by other states of their preliminary data alerting all that the state now had the results…
One must ask why in the “most open and transparent administration in Delaware’s history” (Markell’s state of the state claim) we are still waiting for the preliminary data to be released.
Do we really have the results? The test was given last spring (March and April) so you’d think for a test to have educational impact the results would be available quickly.
Looks like school is starting at the end of this month. Which begs the question… How are we planning on using the Smarter Balanced Assessment (SBA) test results? Will the children who do not pass the test be retained? Given extra schooling (Obviously it’s too late for summer school)? Doubtful. So how will this test improve their education? “Oh, you failed the 5th grade SBA. Good luck in 6th grade, hopefully next years 5th graders will improve, but it’s too late for you!”
This test should be used to identify student problems and correct them, but how can that happen if we don’t even have the results? What’s the point of a test that doesn’t give the necessary feedback in a timely manner?
Once again, this isn’t about the kids – especially the kids who fail this oh so important test and get pushed along. Maybe there’s a plan, but we’d need to actually see the flippin’ test scores first. I’m sticking with my prediction: These scores won’t be good, and will probably do more to fuel the opt-out movement than anything else.
Anyone know when these scores will be released?