Dive Brief:
- On Tuesday, researchers released an outside review of Florida’s new assessments that asserts their validity and lack of bias.
- A chaotic rollout of the new tests this spring, which included glitchy digital logins, raised questions about the exams.
- State education officials say the study’s findings confirm the tests’ use in high-stakes accountability systems, such as school rankings and teacher evaluations.
Dive Insight:
Though the study confirmed the tests’ validity, it will likely do little to halt debate over the state’s new system. For one, the researchers threw into question the tests’ online iteration and the scores of students who completed the computerized versions.
"Issues were encountered on just about every aspect of the computer-based test administrations, from the initial training and preparation to the delivery of the tests themselves," the report reads. The study also questioned how closely the tests were aligned to standards.
As a result, teacher unions and local school districts have offered an alternate interpretation from state officials: Slow down and reconsider assessments’ use in accountability. It’s a common message across the country as parents and teachers push back against high-stakes testing and accountability systems. Opt-outs swept a number of states this spring, and several have begun to reconsider their testing systems.
