HSAs to exclude writing

The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) will remove all writing sections from the Maryland High School Assessments (HSAs) beginning with the 2009 administration of the exams, according to MSDE Educational Program Specialist William Reinhard. Although the change will return scores to schools earlier, some Blair faculty have expressed concern that it may have negative effects on class curriculum, teacher instruction and student performance on the assessments.

MSDE's decision was prompted by complaints from school systems throughout the state that it took too long for schools to receive their scores, Reinhard said. State Superintendent Nancy Grasmick decided to revise the test format after receiving unanimous support from all 24 of Maryland's local superintendents. The decision was officially announced to state school systems the week of Sept. 3.

As one of the school systems to complain to the MSDE about slow grading, MCPS welcomed the change in structure, according to MCPS Director of Public Information Kate Harrison. "If the constructed answer questions are eliminated, they're saying they will get responses back to schools in three weeks," she said. "We see that as a positive." Reinhard confirmed that the elimination of the writing portions will reduce turnaround time for scoring from nine to an expected three weeks.

Except for Principal Darryl Williams, who sees the shorter turnaround time as an advantage, Academic leaders at Blair were not as enthusiastic. Though initially excited at the elimination of the "jargon" — Extended Constructed Response (ECR) and Brief Constructd Response (BCR) — that is "not compatible with colleges," English resource teacher Vickie Adamson is concerned that the removal of writing from the HSAs may mean the deterioration of writing instruction. "Whether we like it or not, the tests drive our instructional practice," she said. "I hope it doesn't mean we take our focus off writing."

Reinhard said that the MSDE has received some negative feedback on the change, including concerns about curriculum changes like Adamson's. He said the state does not believe the removal of writing questions from the assessments will diminish the emphasis on writing in the classroom, as the MSDE is working to improve writing lessons throughout the state with task forces specifically designed to aid English teachers. "There's an interest in continuing to strengthen our writing instruction," he said.

Otherwise, Reinhard said feedback about the announcement of the new test format has been positive.

ESOL resource teacher Joseph Bellino shares Adamson's concern that the change will discourage writing in the classroom, but is worried that the elimination of writing questions from the HSAs will negatively affect the scores of ESOL students. Bellino said that, in the past, ESOL students have performed better on the writing sections than on multiple choice questions, since scores on writing allow for partial credit. "Multiple choice is black and white — there's not as much room for shades of understanding," he said. "If you miss one or two words, you may miss the whole question."

Reinhard said that the MSDE did not consider the effect on passing rates in its decision to change the assessments, and that the expected decrease in scoring time will actually aid struggling students. "If a student needs to take the test again, there will be preparation earlier," he said. "We'll know where that student's deficiencies lie." Harrison said that MCPS also believes that students who fail one or more assessments will improve more easily if they receive their scores sooner.

Social studies resource teacher George Vlasits said that he, and the social studies department as a whole were upset by the change. "With the tremendous emphasis on testing, at least the HSAs were supposedly designed to focus teaching on what should be done in the classroom," he said. "A multiple choice test is the opposite of that."

Like Adamson and Bellino, Vlasits is concerned that the change in the test format will lead to changes in curriculum. "If it were left up to [the social studies department], there would be no change in the curriculum," he said. "But everything comes down from the [MCPS] Central Office, and they are applauding this change. We'll be forced into this mode of just teaching to the test, but we'll go kicking and screaming."
Harrison said MCPS has no current plans for curriculum change.

Both the science and math departments predicted little shift in their curricula to suit the new test. "The county final will still have BCRs and ECRs, so we still need to prepare students," said acting science department head Leslie Van. The change "won't affect how we teach," she said.

According to Reinhard, the MSDE has been planning the change for the past few years. "It's something we've been working on with the test vendor," he said. "The key was not to change the rigor of the test with the removal of the writing. We're now satisfied."

Beginning with the class of 2009, Maryland public school students will be required to pass the four exams — English, Government, Biology and Algebra — to graduate.

Additional reporting by Sophie Schwadron.