tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post7331455734789092356..comments2024-03-18T16:51:10.406-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Seattle Schools This WeekMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-10404559343932325452014-02-17T20:36:53.515-08:002014-02-17T20:36:53.515-08:00Hmm, well, I am first and foremost an advocate for...Hmm, well, I am first and foremost an advocate for parents. Because everyone else has got someone at their back. <br /><br />I thought it a "good piece" because it points out this:<br /><br />"So teachers are expected to give a test they did not design, on material they did not teach, to students who will not learn anything from the experience. Those teachers, students, and their parents will never see the results."<br /><br />There were a lot of years of parents not seeing WASL questions (or under extreme circumstances) or understanding what their students did or did not do on that test.<br /><br />More to the point, it seems that nothing is being explained to parents. It appears that at the district, state and national level parents are on what I have always called "a need to know" basis. They'll tell us what THEY think parents need to know...and not one sentence more.<br /><br />So do I agree with everything said in the article - no, I don't (and I didn't say I did). I just put it up and encouraged parents to read it and consider it. <br /><br />I got into this "why I stand with parents" in another thread. <br /><br />But some common sense skepticism is a healthy thing.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12588239576000641336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-55687913909072761592014-02-17T15:12:19.462-08:002014-02-17T15:12:19.462-08:00Melissa, I'm curious why you think the Jessie ...Melissa, I'm curious why you think the Jessie Ramey piece in the Washington Post is a "good piece." It's obvious from reading this piece (and looking into her professional background) that she has little to no understanding of psychometrics or assessment.<br /><br />The other thing I'm curious about is why you would take issue with the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) field testing items for future PSSAs. Isn't one of Diane Ravitch's major issues with Common Core and the CC assessments (Smarter Balanced and PARCC) is that they haven't been field tested? Both of the consortia are field testing this spring. Apparently, PDE has been field testing their items for PSSAs for quite a while. Why do you think this is a bad thing? Field testing is exactly what Diane Ravitch has called for.<br /><br />The old WASLs as well as the current MSPs, HSPEs, and EOCs include items that were previously field tested HERE IN WASHINGTON with Washington students. Those items like all items were/are written by Washington teachers. FYI - The same is true in Pennsylvania --- field test items and all operational items are written by Pennsylvania teachers (led by the test vendor).<br /><br />Here in Washington, field test items are "embedded" in the MSPs, HSPEs, and EOCs. In other words, when students are taking the state tests, there are field test items on these tests. They are scored but are not included in the student's score. Good items are kept for use on the operational tests and the bad items are tossed away. Apparently, PDE has decided to use field test items in what is called "stand alone" field testing. Washington uses "embedded" field testing.<br /><br />These field test items ARE NOT used by the test vendor in other states. All items (field and operational) are owned by Washington and the test vendor is prohibited from using these items in any other state. The same is true in Pennsylvania --- PDE owns the items. The test vendor is not selling these field items and the future operational tests back to the state --- they are part and parcel of the same thing. All item development is part of the whole testing contract. Field testing is a required psychometric component of a testing contract.<br /><br />If the state and/or local districts do not notify parents of stand-alone field tests and don't provide opportunities to view tests, that is another matter. But field testing in and of itself is not how the author portrays it. She is creating a controversy where none exists. If she and others view standardized testing as inappropriate, that is understandable. Of course she would view field testing as an illegitimate activity since she views all standardized testing as illegitimate.<br /><br />--- swkAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-7508211495432085692014-02-16T23:29:12.310-08:002014-02-16T23:29:12.310-08:00As for the Advanced Learning office, they haven...As for the Advanced Learning office, they haven't answered the phone or returned calls and/or emails for the last two weeks, why start now?!?<br /><br /><br />Still waitingAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-55967273948139779982014-02-16T19:28:15.344-08:002014-02-16T19:28:15.344-08:00Po3, I have no idea. All I know is that the distr...Po3, I have no idea. All I know is that the district tends to power down.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12588239576000641336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-7878397653571606632014-02-16T18:49:24.732-08:002014-02-16T18:49:24.732-08:00If staff chooses to take this week off do they put...If staff chooses to take this week off do they put into vacation or are weeks like these freebie?Po3noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-22534116540368303592014-02-16T14:14:28.662-08:002014-02-16T14:14:28.662-08:00Sorry, I think "technicallly" they are o...Sorry, I think "technicallly" they are open but if you really think you can call and get someone, I'd doubt it.Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12588239576000641336noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-33620702978336383562014-02-16T14:04:09.899-08:002014-02-16T14:04:09.899-08:00Melissa, are district offices really closed? I tho...Melissa, are district offices really closed? I thought Advanced Learning, Enrollment Services etc were actually open next week except monday.<br />thanks,<br />kAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com