Study: Nevada tests don’t match school standards

Terry Webster

Friday, Nov. 2, 2001 | 11:23 a.m.

Nevada's state testing program doesn't match its academic standards, according to a new study by the American Federation of Teachers.

"Nevada's system is not coherent," the study concluded. "The tests and consequences are not aligned with the standards."

Standards refer to what students should know by a certain grade level. For example, by the end of fourth grade, students in Nevada are expected to have have immediate recall of the multiplication table, through the number 12.

The study maintains that Nevada has generally done a good job of defining standards but falls short on using state tests that reflect those standards.

Janet Bass, a spokeswoman for the national teachers' union, said Nevada officials could offer no written proof that standards match the testing program.

But Nevada is not alone.

The union study says every state claims its tests are linked to standards, but only eight were able to provide documentation of the claim.

Nevada education officials maintain that some of the exams are aligned with education standards and some are not.

The high school proficiency exam, for example, is based on state standards, Paul LaMarca, director of testing for the Nevada Department of Education, said. The test, written by the state, was designed to follow statewide curricula for high school, he said.

In contrast, LaMarca said, the standardized TerraNova exam, which the state uses in grades 4, 8 and 10, is not directly tied to state standards. The TerraNova compares how Nevada students perform with other students throughout the country.

Because the TerraNova is used to judge school performance, state officials are considering using a test that would specifically relate to Nevada's standards.

Tests should be used, the union study says, to identify students who are having a hard time keeping up. Then states should provide funding to tutor struggling students.

Nevada school districts are required to give extra help to juniors and seniors if they lack enough math or English credits, the study notes. Although the state provides funding for remediation in all subjects, it only requires intervention in English, math and science at the high school level, according to the study.

Clark County School District officials, however, have frequently said they don't have enough money to provide all of the remedial programs or supplies they need.

"A lot of it boils down to state funding," Deputy Superintendent Augie Orci said.

A lack of funding does not allow the district to offer as many programs as it would like, he said. For example the district is unable to provide free summer school to students who need it.

Another criticism, Bass said, is that Nevada does not require standardized testing in social studies. It's the union's position, she said, that social studies should be included. At present Nevada's standardized tests cover English, math and science.

The study makes several suggestions for how Nevada can improve its education system, including: