NYSSBA details opposition to field test plan

On Board Online • January 26, 2015

By Cathy Woodruff
Senior Writer

NYSSBA is weighing in against a proposed rule change that would explicitly require schools to administer the stand-alone field tests used to vet potential questions for future state tests.

NYSSBA "opposes stand-alone field tests, based on concerns expressed by its members and the parents of the children they serve," Executive Director Timothy G. Kremer wrote in a Jan. 5 letter to Deputy Education Commissioner Ken Wagner. Parents have complained that field tests rob schools of instructional time, and some districts have refused to participate.

"While NYSSBA recognizes that required standardized tests need to be validated, it believes such validation should not be dependent upon stand-alone field tests," Kremer continued. "Instead, such validation should be accomplished by the insertion of sample questions in existing tests and by producing more versions of the tests."

Kremer's letter also acknowledged that the State Education Department's reliance on stand-alone field tests is largely a consequence of insufficient state funding to embed more trial questions within regular "operational" exams. He noted that NYSSBA "has long advocated for the state to fully fund the state assessment program."

Among their 2015-16 state budget priorities, the Regents are asking for $8.4 million to help eliminate stand-alone field testing, reduce testing time and release more test questions to teachers for use in planning lessons and classroom activities. Printing more versions of an exam allows the State Education Department to try out more questions during a regular testing cycle.

"Because the department prints the grades 3-8 tests internally, only four versions of the exam can be created and shipped to school districts," SED officials wrote in a budget memo. "As a result, the department is required to conduct stand-alone field testing in order to have enough test questions banked to develop the following year's exam and to be reused on future exams." Other states that embed sample questions print 20 or more test versions, according to SED.

At their November board meeting, the Regents accepted a staff recommendation to seek public comment on the proposed rule change mandating participation in field testing, which prompted Kremer's letter.

Field tests and their precursor, pretests, have been part of New York's assessment program since 1938. State officials randomly select districts to participate every year, but Wagner told the Regents that a growing number of districts have balked and are "questioning whether school participation in field tests is required." He said the rule change would serve to clarify the State Education Department's position that participation is mandatory.

In his letter, Kremer disputed the department's contention that the amendment would not impose additional compliance requirements or costs on school districts. While he agreed that New York has a long history of field testing, he said "school district participation in field testing has not been mandated through law or regulation."

Meanwhile, Kremer said, the proposed mandate appears to be at odds with state legislation passed last year requiring the education commissioner to work with school districts and BOCES groups to "reduce and eliminate traditional standardized tests that are not required under state or federal law."

The Regents are scheduled to act on the proposed rule change in February.