Test-based Accountability Systems: Concerns for Indiana’s Multilingual Learners and Their Teachers

Authors

  • Katie Brooks Butler University
  • Brooke Kandel-Cisco Butler University

Abstract

The past several years have been marked by rapid change in Indiana education policy.  Stakeholders at all levels including children, parents, teachers, and administrators have been affected by changes in standards, testing, evaluation, and public school funding. This article outlines recent changes in Indiana’s education accountability systems and highlights how those changes intersect with what is known about appropriate measurement of multilingual learners and how those changes influence multilingual learners in Indiana.  The validity issues present in the application of Indiana's accountability system to the population of multilingual learners and their teachers are noted as well as the consequences of the system for multilingual learners, their teachers, and their schools.

Author Biographies

Katie Brooks, Butler University

Dr. Katie Brooks is an Associate Professor of Education in the College of Education at Butler University.  She taught elementary, middle school, and adult students English as a second language in Indianapolis Public Schools.  She earned her bachelor and master degrees in language education from Indiana University and her doctorate in curriculum and instruction from Kansas State University.  Her research focuses on second language acquisition and creating more inclusive schools for culturally and linguistically diverse students.

Brooke Kandel-Cisco, Butler University

Dr. Brooke Kandel-Cisco is an Assistant Professor in the College of Education at Butler University.  She previously worked as a bilingual and English as a Second Language teacher in Houston, Texas. She received a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology from Texas A&M University.  Her research focuses on effective and culturally responsive instructional practices for multilingual learners.

References

Abedi, J. (2002). Standardized achievement tests and English language learners: Psychometric issues. Educational Assessment, 8(3), 231-257.

American Educational Research Association & American Psychological Association, & National Council on Measurement in Education (1999). Standards for educational and psychological testing. Washington, DC: American Educational Research Association.

American Statistical Association (2014). Executive Summary of the ASA Statement on Using Value-Added Models for Educational Assessment. Retrieved from https://www.amstat.org/policy/pdfs/ASA_VAM_Statement.pdf

Amrein-Beardsley, A. & Collins, C. (In press). The SAS education value-added assessment system (EVAAS): Its intended and unintended effects in a major urban school system. Tempe, AZ: Arizona State University.

Betebenner, D. (2009). Norm- and criterion-referenced student growth. Educational Measurement: Issues and Practice, 28(4), 42-51.

Burke, A. M., DePalma, G., Ginther, A., Morita-Mullaney, T., & Young, J. W. (2014). Accountability lessons for Indiana schools serving English learners. Manuscript submitted for publication.

Clewell, B., Cosentino de Cohen, C., & Murray, J. (2007). Promise or Peril?: NCLB and the Education of ELL Students. Washington, DC: The Urban Institute.

Coleman, J. (1966). Equality of educational opportunity. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Government Printing Office.

DeCapua, A., & Marshall, H. W. (2010). Students with limited or interrupted formal education in US classrooms. The Urban Review, 42(2), 159-173.

Diaz-Bilello & Briggs, (2014). Using student growth percentiles for Educator Evaluations at the Teacher Level. Center for Assessment & CADRE. Retrieved from http://www.nciea.org/publication_PDFs/GrowthPercentileReport%20EDB073114.pdf

Elliott, S. (2012, February 24). Grading system likely to hurt high-poverty schools most. The Indianapolis Star. Retrieved from http://icpe2011.com/uploads/Grading_system_likely_to_hurt_high-poverty_schools_most___The_Indianapolis_Star___indystar.pdf

Fry, R. (2008). The role of schools in the English language learner achievement gap. Washington, DC: Pew Hispanic Center. Retrieved from http://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED502050.pdf

García, E. E., & Frede, E. C. (2010). Young English Language Learners: Current Research and Emerging Directions for Practice and Policy. Early Childhood Education Series. New York, NY: Teachers College Press.

Gong, B., Perie, M., & Dunn, J. (2006). Using student longitudinal growth measures for school accountability under No Child Left Behind: An update to inform design decisions. Center for Assessment. Retrieved from http://www.nciea.org/publications/GrowthModelUpdate_BGMAPJD07.pdf

Franco, M. S., & Seidel, K. (2012). Evidence for the need to more closely examine school effects in value-added modeling and related accountability policies. Education and Urban Society, 44(1), 1-29.

Heubert, J.P., & Hauser, R.M. (1999). High stakes: Testing for tracking, promotion, and graduation. Washington, DC: National Academy Press.

Hout, M. & Elliott, S., (Eds.). (2011). Incentives and Test-Based Accountability in Education. National Research Council of the National Academies of Science. Washington, DC: The National Academies Press, 2011.

Indiana Department of Education. (2014a). Equity for English Learners: Imagining the Possibilities and #MakingItHappen.

Indiana Department of Education (2014b). Corporation Enrollment by Special Education and English Language Learners (ELL). Retrieved from http://www.doe.in.gov/accountability/find-school-and-corporation-data-reports

Jones, B. D., & Egley, R. (2004). Voices from the frontlines: Teachers’ perceptions of high-stakes testing. Education Policy Analysis Archives, 12(39), 1-29. Retrieved from http://epaa.asu.edu/epaa/v12n39/

Jones, M. G., Jones, B. D., Hardin, B.,Chapman, L., Yarbrough, T., & Davis, M. (1999). The impact of high-stakes testing on teachers and students in North Carolina. Phi Delta Kappan, 81(3), 199-203.

OECD (2010),PISA 2009 Results: Learning Trends: Changes in Student Performance Since 2000 (Volume V), PISA, OECD Publishing. DOI: 10.1787/9789264091580-en

Pink, D. (2009). The puzzle of motivation. TED Talk. Retrieved from https://www.ted.com/talks/dan_pink_on_motivation

Rivkin. S. G., Hanushek, E. A., & Kain, J. F. (2005). Teachers, schools, and academic achievement. Econometrica, 73(2), 417-458.

Schochet, P. Z., & Chiang, H. S. (2010). Error rates in measuring teacher and school performance based on student test score gains (NCEE 2010-4004). Washington, DC: National Center for Educational Evaluation and Regional Assistance, Institute of Education Sciences, United States Department of Education.

U.S. Department of Education. (2013). National Center for Education Statistics, Common Core of Data (CCD), Local Education Agency Universe Survey, 2002-03 through 2011-12.

U.S. Department of Education. (2014). ESEA Flexibility. Retrieved from http://www2.ed.gov/policy/elsec/guid/esea-flexibility/index.html

Young, J. W. (2008). Content tests for English Language Learners. R & D Connections, 8, 1-7.

Published

2014-10-30

Issue

Section

Articles