'...We've escalated to Pearson and they have confirmed that the test item is functioning as designed...' (CPS)... PARCC 8th grade math question might seem confusing to hundreds of students and teachers, but CPS says it's OK because .... Pearson says it's OK!...
Anyone who wants to know how subservient Chicago Public Schools is to corporate America can go no further than the current (secret questions) PARCC 8th grade math test. On April 28, teachers and students complained that one of the questions was bad. So naturally CPS administrators reviewed the questionable question and submitted whether it's good or not to -- Pearson, the corporation that sells the tests to Chicago... Pearson has also told CPS that every student who takes the PARCC on line must answer the Pearson intrusive 23-question "Student Survey" before the test can be submitted as complete.
Not only has CPS vetted the PARCC tests for Pearson, but now they are admitting that Pearson is "above" CPS in the hierarchy of reality. When challenged about a bad question on the Pearson 8th grade math test on April 28, the top testing official in the nation's third largest school system added to Chicago's Orwellian lexicon with the following statement: "We've escalated to Pearson and they have confirmed that the test item is functioning as designed." The official CPS answer came from Kelly McBribe (now Kelly Mina). Those who wish to check out this story further can go to: Kelly K. Mina, Assessment Specialist, Department of Assessment, Chicago Public Schools
P 773.553.1572
F 773.553.2421
(kmcbride@cps.edu)
Here is what CPS officials said yesterday:
Dear PARCC School Leadership & School Test Coordinators:
"At the close of Day 2 of the PARCC EOY window, we have a few notifications to share:
ITEM #14 (8th Grade Math, Unit 1). Test question #14 on the Mathematics Unit 1, 8th grade test has been reported as confusing by students and Test Administrators. We've escalated to Pearson and they have confirmed that the test item is functioning as designed. There is NOT an associated image/graphic missing from the item. Students should be advised to work the problem to the best of their ability. Please see official language from Pearson below:
"This task is accurate, is appropriately written to the evidence statement and has been reviewed. A graphic is not intended to be provided."
