Update: We just got a response from OSPI on our question: Are you going to put a link to the bulletin on the original press release page since you appear to have corrected the table on that page? Shouldn’t people who look at PR’s (and don’t watch or know about bulletins being used to correct PR’s) know there was a correction? Newspapers amend the original articles.
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3:50 PM (9 minutes ago) |
The correction was sent to everyone who subscribes to our news releases. There’s no need for any additional links.
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Several weeks ago a small group of people, who keep an eye on OSPI, found errors in the table released by Randy Dorn and OSPI regarding the results of the SBAC (Common Core Test). We notified OSPI of the error and they respond that they had just noticed it and would make a correction. We couldn’t get any info on when the update would occur and if they would issue a new Press Release. We asked to be notified but never were.
We sent Mr. Dorn an email through his Administrative Assistant (he doesn’t give out his email address to the public). This morning we got an email from Nathan Olson who is the Manager of Communication in which he provided a link to the update. Please notice that it’s a “bulletin” and not a Press Release. Why not a Press Release? Because it would have gotten wide dissemination whereas a Bulletin is hard to find and would not be seen unless you were looking for it. So, without further ado here is their “Bulletin”. Feel free to share it everywhere and with everyone!
Notice that they say they “incorrectly reported some numbers”. Not the SBAC results. Not high stakes testing. Not the numbers they praised…”some numbers”
Here is the link Mr. Olson provided to us: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WAOSPI/bulletins/15f2b47
If you went to the OSPI website and clicked on the Bulletins link here’s what you get: http://www.k12.wa.us/BulletinsMemos/bulletins2016.aspx
Do you notice that the normal link you and I would check (the 2nd one) does NOT have the bulletin link on it? Who in heaven’s name would be able to get to a secure server (https) when the public only gets access to the non-secure (http) pages? They certainly did their very best to hide it…oh…and…nothing on the original press release page about the error.
CORRECTION: Statewide test results
Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction sent this bulletin at 08/24/2016 07:36 AM PDT
Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.
In our Aug. 16 press release on statewide test scores, OSPI incorrectly reported some numbers.
Students receiving special education services can show their proficiency by earning a Level 2 on the Smarter Balanced tests. The original table OSPI posted was inconsistent in showing proficiency across 2015 and 2016. One year included students who passed at a Level 2, while the other did not. For clarity and transparency sake, we offer the following corrected tables:
- All students showing proficiency. This includes students who earned a Level 3 or 4 and those students whose Individualized Education Program (IEP) allows them to show proficiency by earning a Level 2.
| Percent of students proficient, 2015-16 | ||||||
| ELA | Math | |||||
| Grade | 2015 | 2016 | Diff. | 2015 | 2016 | Diff. |
| 3 | 52.1 | 54.3 | 2.2 | 56.7 | 58.9 | 2.2 |
| 4 | 54.6 | 57.0 | 2.4 | 54.0 | 55.4 | 1.4 |
| 5 | 57.6 | 60.1 | 2.5 | 48.1 | 49.2 | 1.1 |
| 6 | 54.0 | 56.5 | 2.5 | 45.5 | 48.0 | 2.5 |
| 7 | 56.9 | 58.5 | 1.6 | 48.0 | 49.8 | 1.8 |
| 8 | 56.9 | 59.7 | 2.8 | 46.1 | 47.8 | 1.7 |
- Students earning Level 3 or 4. This includes only students who scored a Level 3 or 4.
| Percent of students proficient, 2015-16 | ||||||
| ELA | Math | |||||
| Grade | 2015 | 2016 | Diff. | 2015 | 2016 | Diff. |
| 3 | 51.7 | 54.0 | 2.3 | 56.4 | 58.7 | 2.3 |
| 4 | 54.1 | 56.6 | 2.5 | 53.7 | 55.0 | 1.3 |
| 5 | 57.1 | 59.6 | 2.5 | 47.7 | 48.9 | 1.2 |
| 6 | 53.5 | 56.0 | 2.5 | 45.2 | 47.8 | 2.6 |
| 7 | 56.2 | 57.9 | 1.7 | 47.6 | 49.5 | 1.9 |
| 8 | 56.4 | 59.0 | 2.6 | 45.8 | 47.6 | 1.8 |
OSPI regrets the error.
Contact
Nathan Olson
OSPI Communications Manager
360-725-6015
Thoughts and observations:
- How did the error get made? Did anyone check the work?
- Why not “man up” and own the problem with the public rather than hide it?
- On the actual PR page they don’t show any thing about the “Bulletin” update
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