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Thursday, October 13, 2005
A standardized puzzler
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Once upon a time, kids took a standardized test every spring. Now, testing is a year-round part of education. Fulton County, for example, already gave the Iowa Test of Basic Skills, and DeKalb County is giving the test now.
The Iowa is required for students in grades three, five and eight, though some districts give the test to additional grades. But you knew that, right?
Test your testing knowledge with this puzzle. Here’s a hint: Though most of the answers are related to testing, some are not.
Sorry, it’s not a clickable puzzle, so you’ll have to print it out. I’ll post the solution tomorrow.
Across:
1. No Child Left Behind takes its name from this agency’s former slogan: Children’s _____ Fund.
3. These exams expose grade inflation. (abbreviation)
5. NCLB promoter
6. ___ Arbor
7. Random ______
9. Many schools’ NCLB downfall
11. Preschool accrediting agency: National Association for the Education of _____ Children
12. Mood among students on test day
13. Students who must pass state tests in 2014
15. Eardrum-shattering animal sound
16. Home of the TAAS
19. Revised to resemble its rival
20. Birthplace of standardized testing (abbrev.)
21. One way schools stay out of NCLB trouble: _____ Harbor
24. Helps adults from foreign countries learn English. (abbrev.)
25. Outdated term for students who can’t easily learn to read.
26. Spielberg film
27. Federal test compares states and tracks progress over time. (abbrev.)
28. State office that publishes report cards on Georgia schools. (abbrev.)
32. Not useful for a standardized test
——————————
Down:
1. A student with a ______ qualifies for a subgroup
2. NCLB defender
4. Backbone of NCLB
6. What all schools want to make
9. Self-satisfied (synonym)
10. aka “unfunded mandate”
14. Publishes guide to academic papers. (abbrev.)
17. Says Georgia will “lead the nation in improving student achievement.”
18. Often speaks of “the soft bigotry of low expectations.”
22. Scores the SAT (abbrev.)
23. Kids who need ESOL (abbev.)
29. Useful for a standardized test
30. Testing well is good for one’s ____
31. Test participation _____
33. Brand of footwear once favored by celebrities
Grad Test Dilemma
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
The state school board is considering a change in how it considers waivers for students who have tried unsuccessfully to pass the state graduation test. Here’s Mary MacDonald’s story.
At issue is whether some students are being unfairly denied diplomas because of the state’s rigid rules regarding the graduation test. Students must pass exams in math, English, writing, social studies and science. Most students pass math, English and writing with ease, but the science and social studies tests are stumbling blocks for some students, especially those with disabilities or a limited command of English.
Advocates for students with disabilities note that under the proposed rules students would still have to pass standardized tests - the End-of-Course Tests for each subject. That would make it hard, even impossible, for some to graduate, the advocates say.
Should students who work hard, get good grades, come to school almost every day, prepare for the graduation test each time and miss the cutoff by just a few points have a chance at a regular diploma? Or would this represent a softening of the standards Georgia state school officials constantly tout?
