The Assessment of Thoughtful Literacy in NAEP: Why the States Aren't Measuring up.

The Assessment of Thoughtful Literacy in NAEP: Why the States Aren't Measuring up.

This article describes the major differences between the NAEP test and the state test that are given to students to assess their reading level. The article states that the state tests do not measure up to the NAEP. The NAEP assess in a more open-ended way compared to the multiple choice format on the state tests. NAEP places a great deal more emphasis upon a readers ability to construct and explain a response to text, whereas the state test place a higher premium upon a readers ability to recognize a response and distinguish it from other less adequate responses. NAEP de-emphasizes vocabulary items and the sample of the state tests uses them regularly in comprehension assessment. NAEP calls for a higher order interpretation more than twice as frequently as the highest ranked state test. NAEP uses far more open-ended items in its assessment of reading, uses far fewer vocabulary and genre items, and demands far more thoughtful response than any of the state tests. A significant advantage of NAEP is related to the complaint voice by many educators. Many teachers say that assessment is driving curriculum , and teachers are being pressured to teach to the test rather than toward the achievement of a set of clearly articulated goals.

Why do think the state tests are still being given, if the NAEP works better from what the article is describing?