A majority of parents and teachers in our state appear to be unhappy with our state standardized tests (Once known as the WASL, now the HSPE, etc.)

Several years ago when the students in the public schools were not showing adequate improvement on these exams, the tests was not adjusted so as to increase the percentage of children achieving a passing score.

Would it not be more efficient, cost effective and more accurately determinative of our children’s knowledge to use a national standards test like the Iowa, so we could fairly compare our children’s education with those in the other 49? As it stands now, our children do not receive a true measurement of their knowledge until they take the SAT, a national exam.

Our state tests are designed, adjusted and analyzed yearly by the SPI (state Superintendent of Public Instruction) and staff in Olympia and sent out of state for other teachers to correct. All the above receive compensation for their efforts.

If a nationwide test was used, SPI would no longer have the power to determine the content, codify the rules and regulations and award contracts to testing consultants.

Taxpayers would come out ahead as SPI would simply have to purchase the test, administer it and send it in for scoring.

Most importantly, the wimnners would be all residents of this state who will finally discover the strengths and weaknesses of our educational establishment.

Now, the state must have a reason for wanting SPI to control this test. What information am I missing?

Kevin Christian
Des Moines