Board lowers passing score on tough state math test

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http://www.suntimes.com/output/education/cst-nws-score24.html

Board lowers passing score on tough state math test

February 24, 2006

BY ROSALIND ROSSI Education Reporter

Assured they were not "dumbing down'' the state's eighth-grade math test, state school board members Thursday agreed to lower the score needed to pass the state achievement test that once was the hardest to pass.

The score required to meet state math standards in the Illinois Standards Achievement Test taken by eighth-graders will fall from the 67th to the 38th percentile under the state Board of Education's decision.

The new passing mark, measured in national percentiles, now is closer to the passing marks required in other state tests, state officials said.

Official: Score was set too high


State assessment director Becky McCabe told board members they were not "dumbing down'' the test or "gerrymandering'' the results by lowering the eighth-grade math score needed to meet state standards.
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(Yes, it is dumbing down!)