To test or not to test

by Jay Hammond, ISEA Staff Counsel

In the wake of the so-called No Child Left Behind (NCLB) act come serious concerns about reporting test results of students that are mandated by that federal legislation.

As everyone now knows, if test scores do not reach minimum levels, a school can be placed on a "list" and will be monitored in the future for compliance with minimum acceptable scores. If test scores do not improve, there can be an eventual loss of federal funding. As a result, teachers are facing mounting pressure from administrators to do all they can to ensure target test scores are met.

However, there are acceptable ways to prepare students for these tests as well as unacceptable methods. Some teachers in Iowa have already had unpleasant experiences when they crossed the line in terms of what constitutes an acceptable preparation method. Some administrators who direct teachers to pursue certain methods of test preparation cannot be relied upon to support those teachers if the methods later are deemed unacceptable by reviewing authorities. This has resulted in employment jeopardy for some teachers.

In order to avoid incurring individual liability for unacceptable test preparation, certain standards of preparation should be adhered to. This article is not concerned with the validity of "one-size-fits-all" testing to measure true academic progress. This article is concerned only with protecting yourself from later claims that you engaged in unfair test preparation--or that you "cheated"--in order to raise the scores of your students.

In an effort to secure appropriate testing in all Iowa school districts, the Iowa Department of Education has suggested specific guidelines for all districts to follow when preparing for NCLB testing. It is our suggestion--regardless of whether your district adopts these guidelines as district policy (as suggested by the DE) --that each teacher follow the guidelines in order to protect themselves from Monday morning quarterbacking or administrators with faulty memories. These guidelines include:

1. Do not provide inappropriate test preparation such as any of the following:
   1. Copy, reproduce, or use in any manner any portion of any secure test booklet, for any reason.
   2. Share an actual test instrument in any form.
   3. Use test preparation materials or strategies developed specifically for Annual Progress Reporting or the Annual Yearly Progress report.
2. Do not deviate from the test administration procedures specified in the test examiner's manual.
3. Do not provide inappropriate assistance to students during the test administration.
4. Do not make test answers available to students.
5. Do not change or fill in answers on student answer documents.
6. Do not provide inaccurate data on student answer documents.
7. Do not engage in any practice to artificially raise student scores without actually improving underlying student achievement.
8. Do not participate in, direct, aid, counsel, assist, encourage, or fail to report any of these prohibited acts.

(from ISEA Communique article Oct/Nov 2005)