Remember that the standardized high-stakes tests that so many of us loathe
were written almost entirely by committees of content-area teachers from
their respective states. The tests were written to assess specific items
from the state frameworks, and the frameworks were also written almost
entirely by committees of content-area teachers from their respective
states. We may have career politicians to thank for the laws that mandate
standardized tests, but we have ourselves to thank for the tests.
Not true! Hubby is working on our Commonwealth's tests in Biology and
Chemistry (not actually the test, yet, for Chemistry). The questions are
generated by a paid company and NOT the committee or teachers on the review
board. The job of the committee/teachers is to review the questions and get
rid of any recall questions. Only higher level order thinking questions are
permitted. And, they must align to the Commonwealth's eligible content.
Additionally I understand that there are often complaints from the teacher
reviewers that certain questions are much too difficult. You have the
professional test question writers to thank for the questions and the
"people" that hired the company -- NOT the teachers.
Holly Priestley