Another big thanks to State School Board Member Pat Bruns. She recently pointed out to us that alternate assessments can be used as a 4th path to graduation for students on vouchers at non-public schools. This was established through an amendment to HB 299, a bill whose original intent was to provide assistance for students with autism.
This seems to clearly violate the idea of providing equal educational opportunities to Ohio's schoolchildren.
This week my wife searched the ODE website in an attempt to locate the acceptable alternative assessments. This, of course, proved fruitless because the ODE website has been created to be purposefully confusing, and as it turned out, the information wasn't even there.
Fortunately, Board Member Bruns was able to put in a request, and the ODE posted the relevant information Thursday. Below I have copied my thanks to Pat Bruns which also rattles off a few of the issues that I see with this situation, as well as the ODE's explanation of the alternative assessments.
The Thank you...
Brilliant! Thanks for your legwork on this matter.
It makes me ill that my kids at Elyria High will suffer under the expectation for failure common to urban students, while others (because of wealth, or religious affiliation, or decision to use a voucher) have more opportunities for success through graduation.
For what it's worth, I've heard Senator Lehner discuss the success of the 3rd grade guarantee. ALL of those students are welcome to take alternate assessments that often have more "friendly" cut scores. Though her argument, and those who agree, is that these 3rd graders have simply worked harder and pulled themselves up by their bootstraps in order to achieve at a higher level. No, same level, different assessment.
As for all of these alternate assessments, they're also paper and pencil tests, if I'm not mistaken, which provides an advantage as we're finding through the research. Though the ODE doesn't care to investigate the paper pencil vs. computer conundrum. And we call this equal educational opportunity.
Also, your information from Ms. Wadsworth was just posted Thursday. It wasn't there when we searched the site earlier. So, "good on you," as they say, for getting some relevant info to the public.
Thanks again for your help, Pat. Hey, I'm having a garage sale today. Can I interest you in a kitchen table, or a set of children's golf clubs?
Cheers.
Matt
The ODE's Recently Posted Material on the Issue...
Your requested information can be found mid-way on this page:http://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Quality-School-Choice/Private-Schools/Chartered-Nonpublic-School-Information
Alternative High School Assessment for Graduation (For Chartered Non-Public Schools)
The alternative high school assessments for graduation may be used by Chartered Non-public high schools in place of Ohio’s State End of Course Test and has been determined to meet the requirements in Ohio Revised Code 3313.619.
The following assessments have been conditionally approved dependent on establishment of comparable standards for performance to the state End of Course Tests. ODE will work with the vendors to provide these standards and will post when they are available.
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