Montana ranks last in the nation in efforts to use education data to increase student achievement

A new study released by a national education advocacy group shows that Montana ranks last in the nation in efforts to use education data to increase student achievement.

The study, conducted by the Data Quality Campaign http://www.dataqualitycampaign.org/ — a Washington, D.C.-based group that advocates using better data to increase student performance — graded states on two 10-point checklists.

Montana is the only state in the nation to score zero on the first checklist, meaning it has done nothing to "create a culture in which quality data are not only collected but also used to increase student achievement."

By ROB ROGERS Of The Gazette Staff‌ The Billings Gazette

Full Story: http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/article_613c466a-e502-53f2-ad1e-32af5ef066a2.html

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The methodology of ‘Testing the System’

Statistics professors and other specialists interviewed by USA TODAY say sudden jumps in scores should raise a red flag because they may be caused by cheating or test-tampering by adults. Some professional educators, however, say such gains can be accomplished by curriculum changes, more intensive teaching and better test preparation.

By Jack Gillum, USA TODAY

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