In Oklahoma, there’s been a big fuss about a recent report showing amazing test score improvements, The 74 reports.
The state said many more students were “proficient” in their spring 2024 tests, especially in reading, compared to 2023. For example, 51% of third graders now score proficient or above, up from 29% last year. This seemed like fantastic news, especially since that 51% proficiency rate in third-grade reading was eight years ahead of schedule, according to the state’s plan.
However, when local school officials looked closer, they started to doubt the numbers. They thought the reported improvements seemed too good to be true. Andrew Ho, an expert from Harvard, looked at the data and agreed that the results seemed unusually high. He said the progress in math and reading was far greater than in other states.
The problem is that the state might have changed how they measure proficiency. It seems that this year, students didn’t need to know as much to be considered “proficient” compared to last year. This means the impressive test results might not reflect real improvements but rather a change in the testing standards. In other words, the state moved the goalposts and forgot to tell anyone.
Officials from the state education department have not provided a clear explanation for these changes. State Superintendent Ryan Walters even denied that the results were officially released despite being available online. This lack of transparency has led to confusion among local officials who haven’t been given guidance on understanding or comparing the new test scores.
Many believe this confusion is partly due to Mr Walters’s recent controversial actions. He has been in the news for other issues, like requiring schools to teach the Bible and problems with school funding. Critics argue that this lack of transparency about test results adds to his record of mishandling important issues.
The situation is troubling because accurate test scores are crucial for understanding student progress and deciding which schools need extra help. Changing the testing standards without clear communication makes it hard for teachers and parents to get an accurate picture of the progress being made, potentially impacting the support schools receive.
