EOI Tests Getting Harder, More Failures Expected

The Biology I End of Instruction or EOI test this year for high school students will be the most difficult ever and it may cause graduation rates to take a dive.
"It's a pretty rigorous test," Robin Roberson a science and biology teacher with Byng public schools said. The new test has science teachers, and the Oklahoma Science Teachers Association worried students may fail, and some not graduate, “Big worry, because teachers want to know, how to get their students ready for that assessment,” Marie Pool with Chandler Public Schools said.
The change is due to a new test given by the State Department of Education, “We needed to increase the rigor of our assessments,” Gaile Loving, the DOE Science Assessment specialist added, “We have actually been in this process for 3 years.”
According to Loving, back in 2011 the US Department of Education told states that tests needed to be more difficult, and over the last 3 years the exams have been getting harder with more critical thinking questions. This year up to 40% of the EOI Biology I test will be made up of the most difficult kind of critical thinking questions. A sharp increase of the minimum 15% back in 2010. “We are going to go up on the amount of critical thinking that a student is going to have to do,” Loving said.
The more difficult test has teachers worried some students will fail, and then not graduate, “I see that being a definite fear,” Science Teacher Robin Roberson said.
The increase failure and lower graduation rate is something the DOE is aware of, “Do I expect a drop in scores? Probably temporarily,” Loving said.
The DOE says students can always re-take the test, adding that Biology I is just one of 5 additional subjects that students must pass only 2 of to graduate. Last year 95% of students passed all the EOI tests. “Students will rise to the occasion, they will start passing those assessments,” Loving added.
Until that time, the pressure falls on Oklahoma teachers to prepare students for these difficult tests, “They have to academically perform well on that test,” Teacher Marie Pool said.
Students can take the Biology I test up to 3 times a year. Then they have the option of completing and EOI project to fulfill that requirement.
Similar standardized tests for students in 5th and 8th grade will also be more difficult this year.
Mark Taylor
Fox25 News
MeTaylor@okcfox.comEOI Tests Getting Harder, More Failures Expected

Posted: Tuesday, February 26 2013, 10:18 PM CST