Berwyn Schools Are Getting Better!...Or Are They?

Education zealots like us pay close attention to ISAT scores. We wait for the data to be released each fall (any day now) so that we can analyze, compare, and draw conclusions about our schools, teachers and students. However, we know that there is so much more at stake. Trends in property values are directly tied to test scores. So, it seems, is our own self esteem. Ask anyone who has recently moved about their choice of town and within a few sentences you'll hear about the "good schools". If you don't, it is probably because "their" scores aren't up to snuff.

But do these scores really mean anything?? A recent Tribune article outlined the suspicious practice by the Illiniois State Board of Education of "dumbing down" the tests, requiring LESS of students to be considered proficient, therefore, inflating the scores to make it LOOK like there is improvement. For example, Back in 2006, it took 36 of 56 points — about 64 percent — to pass the fifth-grade reading test. Now, it's 31 points, or 55 percent. The state explains that a statistical process called equating is the reason for the trend and that the questions are harder, so requiring fewer questions right to pass is justified. That makes sense, but the fact that the questions are harder (or significantly different) and the proficiency score is reduced means that comparing scores from one year to the next may be comparing apples to oranges. Maybe even apples to chicken legs. This is all so that we can say "No child was left behind!"

So back in 2006, 76.1% of District 100 students were proficient according to ISAT scores. 69.1% of District 98 students were proficient compared to 77% of students in IL. (This is back when you needed to get 64% right to pass the 5th grade test). In 2009, the percentage of proficient students was 72.4% at D98, 76.0% at D100 compared to 79.8% of students in IL. (Remember, this is now that you only need 55% to be "proficient") So, Berwyn students show steady improvement in proficiency rate, but still lag behind the state. However, if the test is harder (or different) and the scoring is easier, is there any way to even tell if there has been any real growth? any real improvement?