High Stakes Testing and African American Learners: Raising the Bar or Barring the Raise?

1. High Stakes Testing and African American Learners: Raising the Bar or Barring the Raise? Brenda L. (Townsend) Walker, Ph.D., J.D. Professor University of South Florida 974-1385 brendawalker@usf.edu

2. ADVANCE ORGANIZER Rationale Seven Year Itch--NCLBA of 2001 and Academic Achievement National and Florida trends Focus Group Responses Recommendations for Equitable Accountability and Achievement

3. Intent of NCLBA of 2001 Close Achievement Gaps Seven to ten years of data High Pressure, High Stakes Testing Barriers to Achievement The New Majority Implications for Teacher Educators Rationale

4. Purpose: To show what students know and can do Scaled scores (0-500) Three Levels Basic: partial mastery of knowledge and skills that are fundamental for proficient work Proficient: solid academic performance that demonstrates competency over challenging subject matter Advanced: superior performance. National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Trends

5. NAEP TRENDS BY RACE

6. NAEP MATH 4th Grade

7. NAEP 4th Gr. Reading

8. 2007 NAEP Reporting Groups in FL4th Grade Reading

9. 2007 NAEP Reporting Groups in FL8th Grade Reading

10. 2007 NAEP Reporting Groups in FL4th Grade Math

11. 2007 NAEP Reporting Groups in FL8th Grade Math

12. Hillsborough County, FL4th Grade Reading % >=3 on FCAT

13. Pinellas County, FL4th Grade Reading % >=3 on FCAT

14. Polk County, FL4th Grade Reading % >=3 on FCAT

15. Sarasota County, FL4th Grade Reading % >=3 on FCAT

16. Manatee County, FL4th Grade Reading % >=3 on FCAT

17. Hillsborough County, FL 5th Grade Reading % >=3 on FCAT

18. Manatee County, FL5th Grade Reading % >=3 on FCAT

19. Pinellas County, FL5th Grade Reading % >=3 on FCAT

20. Polk County, FL5th Grade Reading % >=3 on FCAT

21. Sarasota County, FL5th Grade Reading % >=3 on FCAT

22. Hillsborough County, FL6th grade Reading % >=3 on FCAT

23. Manatee County, FL6th Grade Reading % >=3 on FCAT

24. Pinellas County, FL6th Grade Reading % >=3 on FCAT

25. Polk County, FL6th Grade Reading % >=3 on FCAT

26. Sarasota County, FL6th Grade Reading % >=3 on FCAT

27. Manatee, FL8th Grade Reading % >=3 on FCAT

28. Hillsborough County, FL8th Grade Reading % >=3 on FCAT

29. Pinellas County, FL8th Grade Reading % >=3 on FCAT

30. Polk County, FL8th Grade Reading % >=3 on FCAT

31. Sarasota County, FL8th Grade Reading % >=3 on FCAT

32. Hillsborough County, FL10th Grade Reading % >=3 on FCAT

33. Manatee County, FL10th Grade Reading % >=3 on FCAT

34. Pinellas County, FL10th Grade Reading % >=3 on FCAT

35. Polk County, FL10th Grade Reading % >=3 on FCAT

36. Sarasota County, FL10th Grade Reading % >=3 on FCAT

37. Focus Group Responses • 3 Groups of African American males with juvenile records • Ages 13-18 • Dropped out in middle or high schools • Perception of Schooling Themes • Alienation from academic process • Alienation from social process • Disconnected from teachers • Desire for school privileges

38. Recommendations for Equitable Accountability and Achievement • Consistent federal and state assessments and benchmarks • Vigilant self-monitoring of unintended consequences • Disaggregate the disaggregated data • Intersection of race and gender • Sustained teacher and administration professional development • Social justice • Avoid competing practices • Low-performing v. high-performing strategies • Students viewed as testing liabilities v. assets • Encouraging drop-outs to raise test scores

39. Recommendations • Nonpunitive supports for struggling learners • Culturally-responsive teaching, leadership. and management systems • Self-critique • Identify attributes, skills, strengths, talents, interests • Incorporate in teaching and communication • Solicit socially-valid input and feedback