Bogus means of increasing test scores

Why did test scores go up in California? Proposition 227 took force in 1998, at the same time the new SAT9 test was introduced. Research (Linn, Graue, and Sanders, 1990) has shown that after new tests are introduced, test scores rise, which is why commercial tests need to be recalibrated every few years. "Test inflation" was especially prevalent in California where the same test had been given for several years in a row, punishments for lower scores were severe, and rewards for higher scores were generous, at least while there was money in the budget. This pressure resulted in districts using unusual and extraordinary means for raising test scores, some of which have nothing to do with increased competence.

Among the bogus means of increasing test scores are extensive training in certain test-taking skills and selective testing, i.e. excluding low scoring children from taking the test. Asimov (2000) suggested that selective testing may have occurred in California. She reported that in many cases in which SAT9 scores increased from year to year, the number of students tested decreased. According to Asimov, "questionable pairings" appeared in 22 San Francisco Area school districts. And of course the use of some test-taking strategies will raise scores without an increase in competence: If there is no penalty for guessing, for example, simply encouraging guessing will raise scores. Use of these means to raise scores is like claiming to raise the temperature of the room by lighting a match under the thermometer.

Test scores and 227

Parrish, Linquanti, Merickel, Quick, Laird and Esra (2002) compared test scores for California English learners in 682 schools that kept bilingual education with 1184 that did not. Their analysis included students currently considered English language learners as well as those who were formerly English language learners but who were subsequently reclassified as proficient.

2