Is the Real Fraud the Misinterpretation of NAEP data?
Monday’s Key West Citizen included a column by syndicated columnist, Walter E. Williams, titled “Education fraud continues to run amok.” His piece was a result of a complete misinterpretation of national test data. You can, also, read it here. Williams is a professor of economics from George Mason University. For the record, the economics department at George Mason University is funded by the Koch Brothers, who are, also, spending their billions in an attempt to privatize public education. Mr. Williams piece is a propaganda piece meant to denigrate public education.
Here is our response:
“Monday’s column by George Mason economist, Walter E. Williams, titled “Education fraud continues to run amok” is based on a gross misinterpretation of national test data. Mr. Williams compares current high school graduation rates to student performance on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, aka The Nation’s Report Card. He incorrectly cites low numbers of 12th grade students scoring “proficient” on the NAEP as proof that students are graduating from high school with below grade level reading and math skills. Unfortunately, he misunderstands the NAEP data.
NAEP “Proficiency” is NOT a measurement of on-grade level performance, but something much higher. This is made clear on NAEP’s own website (nces.ed.gov/nationsreportcard) which states “Students performing at or above the Proficient level on NAEP assessments demonstrate solid academic performance and competency over challenging subject matter. It should be noted that the NAEP Proficient achievement level does not represent grade level proficiency as determined by other assessment standards (e.g., state or district assessments).” NAEP “Proficiency” is a bar set well above “grade level.”
In Florida, high school graduates must pass the state mandated Algebra 1 End of Course Exam and the 10th Grade English Language Arts Florida Standards Assessment (FSA). Mr. Williams assertion that universities are admitting students who haven’t mastered ninth grade level math and reading, is simply not true for Florida graduates.
If high school graduates are ill-prepared for college, as Mr. Williams suggests, I would take a look at the test focused nature of our current K-12 school system which prioritizes test taking skills over providing the collaborative, problem solving, creative thinking skills students will need to be successful in college or career.
Mr. Williams suggests the “first step toward any solution is for the American people to be aware of academic fraud at every level of education.” By misinterpreting NAEP proficiency scores, Mr. Williams does nothing to move us towards a solution. After almost 20 years of test-focused, data driven education, the real fraud may be the overreliance and misinterpretation of standardized test scores.”
