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Blog: FCAR
Speakout
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A Seat at the Table
When the Florida Department of Education convened an outside advisory group
in Orlando on May 31, 2007, "to assist the Department in identifying an
independent, external group of testing experts to review the data from 2006 and
recommend a procedure for establishing an annual review of the test," FCAR was
represented.
Dr. Robert Lange of Lake Mary, retired University of Central Florida professor
of educational measurement and longtime FCAR activist, carried FCAR's values and
vision of open, broad-based, constructive assessment into the meeting.
Following Acting Commissioner of Education Jeanine Blomberg's announcement last
week that the department of education would convene an outside advisory group,
FCAR wrote to the commissioner and to Governor Charlie Crist applauding the
state's commitment to openness and transparency, calling for comprehensive
public review of state tests in the wake of widespread concern over scoring
errors, and requesting a seat at the table. On a holiday weekend, with the
assistance of Bob Schaeffer, education director for The National Center for Fair
and Open Testing (and resident of Sanibel), FCAR directors crafted a list of
requests and recommendations that were included in the
letter.
On Wednesday morning FCAR president Gloria Pipkin had a call from the Department
of Education, inviting FCAR to send a representative to the meeting. With less
than 24 hours notice, Bob Lange prepared for the meeting, with the able
assistance of Sherman Dorn, education
policy analyst, researcher, and assistant professor at USF.
Gloria Pipkin
John L. Perry
June 3, 2007
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