Opinion

NY tests make grade

* There is no question that New York’s 2010 tests were more difficult than before (“NY School Tests Still Below Par,” Fred Smith, PostOpinion, Jan. 20).

In 2009, across grades 3-8 statewide, 77 percent of students met or exceeded standards in English and 86 percent of students did so in math. This year, the percentages of students meeting or exceeding those standards fell to 53 percent in English and 61 percent in math.

Why the drop? We tested a broader range of topics, thus making the tests less predictable, and we raised the number of questions students had to answer correctly to pass.

But we are not stopping there. For spring 2011, the tests will be longer and more comprehensive with a greater range of item difficulty. All English tests will require full essay writing. By 2013, these tests will be aligned with the new standards.

Additionally, our assessments will be aligned with NAEP, the gold standard for measuring student performance.

Finally, we have brought in Harvard University testing expert Dan Koretz to advise us on these critical changes.

David Steiner

Commissioner of Education
Albany