Ohio's Black Student ACT Scores Drop Since '04: Where's Boost From Charter Schools?

COLUMBUS (TDB) -- The college board scores on the ACT test are up this year in Ohio, an achievement the state education department and outgoing State Supt. Susan Tave Zelman are high-fivin' in a press release. But the data is not so positive for African-American students, whose 2008 results are actually lower than they were in 2004. In fact, the gap between whites and blacks has been growing, not shrinking. The scores demonstrate that black children are still being left behind in this era of No Child Left Behind and charter schools. They were supposed to erase the achievement gap, not make it worse.

This year, the ACT composite score was 21.7 for all 88,103 Ohio students who took the college entrance exam, which measures academic results in reading, science, math and English. For whites the score was 22.2; for blacks 17.1. Five years ago, the ACT score was 21.4 for all students, 21.8 for whites and 17.2 for blacks.

Over the past five school years, charter schools have proliferated, and last year there were 252 in the state's nine largest, most urban counties. They were created and funded as alternatives to the public schools, meant to give parents a choice if they felt the public schools weren't up to snuff. The plan was that charter schools would offer poor and urban families a superior education for their children. While the ACT scores don't prove the charter movement is going to wind up a complete failure in the long run, the test results do show that momentum toward success is lacking. The scores for African American haven't improved at all since the charter schools have proliferated:

2004 -- 17.2
2005 -- 17.1
2006 --17.2
2007 -- 17.0
2008 -- 17.1.

Meanwhile, State School Supt. Zelman is crowing about the overall results, and notes there is a relationship between a rigorous curriculum and the ACT: "Data clearly shows a relationship between coursework and college readiness. There more students are exposed to rich and challenging coursework, the better the opportunity for success in the future."

She doesn't say anything about the impact of Ohio's charter schools on the national entrance and placement exam.

Ohio's Department of Education: Sorry Folks, Nothing Is Happening Here

COLUMBUS (TDB) -- The Ohio Department of Education's public affairs/press office has published just 20 press releases since mid-August -- and only 6 so far this year. That's two per month to date in 2008. Apparently, nothing much is happening at the agency that is worth informing the state's citizenry about. Or nobody is supposed to know what is happening. Either way, the lack of communication with the public -- and lack of any excitement and news at the state education level -- could be part of the reason behind Gov. Ted Strickland's push to shake things up. He's on record saying he doesn't think much of State Superintendent Susan Tave Zelman's leadership skills.

Ohio School Achievement Tests: Practice ???'s Are Here

COLUMBUS (TDB) -- Parents who want to get a heads up on Ohio's mandatory school achievement tests might sneak a peek at this state education department Website, where online versions for advance practice are available. The Ohio Department of Education now has the questions and answers publicly posted in a spot that probably is meant for classroom teachers.

Before downloading material to coach little Johnny and Judy, take a glance at the following multiple-choice 8th grade social studies test queries. They seem pretty topical.

Q. Which belief do Jews and Muslims share?

A. Mecca is a holy city.
B. There is only one God.
C. Jesus is the son of God.
D. There are many paths to truth.

Q. In the past, the United States manufactured most of the products used by Americans. Now, many of these products are imported from other countries. What is one reason for this change?

A. The United States government encourages Americans to buy foreign goods.
B. Foreign workers manufacture products that Americans can no longer make.
C. The United States economy has grown smaller in recent decades.
D. Foreign producers can make goods for less money than American producers.

Q. According to Article 1 of the United States Constitution, after Congress passes a bill, how does that bill usually become a law?

A. The states ratify it.
B. The courts uphold it.
C. The president signs it.
D. The cabinet approves it.

The Education Department is also having to quell a rumor that Ohio's high school National Honor Society members can serve as test administrators this year. Not so. The people administering this test have to be licensed teachers employed by the school.

"The statement regarding the National Honor Society student was given at a workshop conducted by a private consultant. Please use caution when considering information about Ohio testing procedures from staff other than the ODE Office of Assessment. Please be very careful when a statement is made by a non-ODE, non-Office of Assessment person,'' the Education Department warning says. "Question all statements and verify through the Office of Assessment the statements made by private consultants."

Now, about Mecca. Is there a problem with that test question? The city on the Red Sea is the birthplace of Muhammad. It certainly could be argued that large numbers of Jews, as well as Christians, would consider Mecca a "holy" city because of its sacred significance to Islam. In other words, the city is deeply associated with religion. But that is too smart for the test -- and you'd be marked wrong. The state says the correct answer is: "There is only one God."