Test Scores Bogus?

Friday, the Louisiana Department of Education released the spring, 2015 test scores of the students tested with the controversial PARCC tests. The way in which these scores were released to the public calls into question the competency of the State Superintendent of Education, Mr. John White.

White and most of the media outlets have compared these results to those of 2013 and 2014.  In fact, various graphics have appeared in our local newspapers depicting each year’s test results, the percentage of students scoring in a category designated ‘At Mastery or Above’.

Graphics and statements comparing Louisiana students’ performance from 2013 through 2015 are totally bogus and just plain statistically incorrect.

Students in 2013 and 2014 were given the state-designed LEAP tests along with the iLEAP tests.  The performance matrix used to determine ’Mastery and Above’ is only valid within a specific test and in this case can only be compared for the years 2013 and 2014.  A different test, the PARCC, with a substantially different performance matrix was used to determine ‘Master and Above’ levels for 2015.  Any results from other years CANNOT even be remotely compared to the 2015 scores.

Such an error not only adds more misinformation about the Common Core Standards, but also provides additional fodder for the Core bashers.

For the Louisiana State Department of Education to release these test scores without a cautionary statement that the results are not comparable to previous years makes me suspect of their motives, and their competence. When will the repeated, intentional disinformation about these standards cease?