So your child or your students are proficient on their state administered test. Well, exactly what does that mean? How do states differ from each other and from NAEP (National Assessment of Education Progress) reports?
Students have spent last month taking the state tests in schools across the U.S. Parents and teachers are hoping that students meet the proficient level or higher – but what does that mean? Proficiency varies with individual states. For example, in Washington, it takes a score of 400 to be proficient but in Massachusetts, it takes 250. Each state has its own assessments, and each defines proficiency differently.
Proficiency is commonly referred to as achieving or faliing to achieve levels determined by tests and assessments. They are based on a system of standards of measurement. Proficiency levels change in direct relation to scales, standards, tests, and calculation methods. NAEP defines proficiency as “solid academic performance”.
Proficiency is nothing but a number. Change the test, change the calculations, and you change the proficiency level. When NCLB came into effect, all students were supposed to attain proficiency levels and be on grade level by 2014. That year is long gone and guess what – all students have not reached that level. The 100% goal never made sense.
The U.S. has 50 states which means there are 50 different definitions of the word proficient on the standardized tests given in our schools. Each state set their standards and in doing so, they choose the cut-off point to determine performance levels (proficient, basic, or advanced).
Common Core Standards and Assessments were designed to standardize what should be taught and scored equally throughout the U.S. That is, at least for now in the subjects of English Language Arts and Mathematics.
State tests and their proficiency scores differ from the NAEP results by more than 30 points. Many states are reporting students as ‘proficient’ when they are not actually well prepared in the subject matter according to an article Proficient vs. Prepared, May 14, 2015.
With nearly all states adopting Common Core State Standards as a basic outline of what students should be taught in the subjects of English Language Arts and Mathematics, school systems will be using and testing similiar content on the Common Core Assessments. In using the Common Core, teachers and parents will have a more accurate reading of the word ‘proficient’.
