OGT News: Graduation test creates doubt in Georgia
Newspapers and other media outlets in Georgia are full of stories today about the state's high school graduation test. Like Ohio, Georgia requires that students pass all five sections of a graduation readiness test in order to get a diploma. Seven years ago, lawmakers added another set of end-of-course tests in subjects like algebra and U.S. history.
Some educators think it is just too much for students to prepare for comprehensive exit exams at the same time they are preparing for the end-of-course tests. By a quirk, the legislature left a provision in the end-of-course law that allowed for a phase out of the exit exam system.
Passage of the No Child Left Behind Act early in the Bush Administration effectively prevented Georgia from phasing out the graduation test. But the complex testing system has left accountability problems and some students can graduate without taking all the necessary end-of-course tests.
Some educators would like to see nothing but the end-of-course tests, since that material is fresh in students' minds. But would that satisfy the No Child Left Behind requirements?
Ohio's system is not unlike Georgia's in some respects in that some educators question the validity of exit exams. Georgia is also facing another Ohio parallel - a new set of requirements that stress math and science studies like Ohio Core.
With so much emphasis on testing, districts are spending major dollars to prepare students for all these test. Ohio districts are currently eligible to use the IQ-ity OGT preparation tool at no charge. From now through September, districts can use the IQ-ity practice test and compare it to similar products on the market.
Some educators think it is just too much for students to prepare for comprehensive exit exams at the same time they are preparing for the end-of-course tests. By a quirk, the legislature left a provision in the end-of-course law that allowed for a phase out of the exit exam system.
Passage of the No Child Left Behind Act early in the Bush Administration effectively prevented Georgia from phasing out the graduation test. But the complex testing system has left accountability problems and some students can graduate without taking all the necessary end-of-course tests.
Some educators would like to see nothing but the end-of-course tests, since that material is fresh in students' minds. But would that satisfy the No Child Left Behind requirements?
Ohio's system is not unlike Georgia's in some respects in that some educators question the validity of exit exams. Georgia is also facing another Ohio parallel - a new set of requirements that stress math and science studies like Ohio Core.
With so much emphasis on testing, districts are spending major dollars to prepare students for all these test. Ohio districts are currently eligible to use the IQ-ity OGT preparation tool at no charge. From now through September, districts can use the IQ-ity practice test and compare it to similar products on the market.
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