testing

Wonk time: An insider's critique of new Minnesota school rating system

By Alleen Brown, TC Daily Planet

Students at Maxfield Elementary school (Photo by Alleen Brown)

St. Paul accountability chief Matt Mohs isn’t sold yet on the new Minnesota system designed to identify schools that are succeeding and failing.

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When tests tell teachers nothing: Special needs not met by standardized tests

By Alleen Brown, TC Daily Planet

David Junwirth is a student at Bridge View (photo courtesy of Rachel Peulen)

Every spring at St. Paul’s Bridge View school for students with significant special needs, teacher Rachel Peulen spends two to three weeks administering a test that she knows will tell her next to nothing about her students.

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At St. Paul's Maxfield Elementary, low ranking masks real transformation

By Alleen Brown, TC Daily Planet

John Bjoraker teaches his third graders a reading lesson from the Mondo curriculum. (Photos by Alleen Brown)

Two conflicting stories are being told about Maxfield Elementary school in St. Paul.

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Winner or loser? Test scores for Minneapolis' Kenny elementary school say both at the same time

By Alleen Brown, TC Daily Planet

Kenny Principal Bill Gibbs with posters showing Kenny test scores (Photo by Alleen Brown)

Kenny elementary school principal, Bill Gibbs, is pleased but puzzled.

Under Minnesota’s new  Multiple Measures Ranking system, which rates how effective schools are at coaxing high test scores out of their students, Kenny holds two conflicting labels. It’s both a struggling “focus” school and an excelling “celebration eligible” school.

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St. Paul teacher: Too much testing hurts kids who need help most

By Alleen Brown, TC Daily Planet

Kaye Peters (Photo by Alleen Brown)

For St. Paul English teacher Kaye Peters, the standardized tests her Central High students take throughout the year are an annoying distraction.

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One teacher's story: Testing makes teaching a nightmare

By Alleen Brown, TC Daily Planet

Students made a collage showing hopes and dreams (photo by Alleen Brown)

For some teachers, the years since No Child Left Behind passed have been times of great personal and professional loss.

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Minnesota's tests: are they really worth the trouble?

By John Fitzgerald, Minnesota 2020

© Hannes Eichinger - Fotolia.com

There are times in a person's life - like when you give yourself a home perm or when you drive your car with the "check oil" light on - when you look at an expert and ask, "Is the damage really that bMORE »

New test results provide clarity & confusion

By Joe Nathan
If you are paying attention, you’re confused. That’s my reaction to the release last week of National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) test scores involving Minnesota students. Fourth and eight grade reading and math results were published. Minnesota’s two largest daily papers had different headlines, using the same data. The (Minneapolis-based) Star Tribune proclaimed, “State’s kids really are above average.” Their story began, “When it comes to math and reading, Minnesota students are way above the national average.” MORE »
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