Proficiency vs. Growth: The Battle Over Education Standards and Achievement
Proficiency and growth stand at the heart of educational discourse, with significant implications for how we measure and value student achievement. Understanding the nuances between these concepts is crucial, especially in today's educational landscape shaped by reforms and societal priorities.
Reevaluating Proficiency and Mastery
Proficiency refers to the ability to reliably perform a task or understand a concept accurately. Historically, the term mastery was synonymous with proficiency, emphasizing the individual's knowledge and ability to apply that knowledge correctly. However, the shift in educational discourse has led to a watered-down definition of mastery, with many institutions de-emphasizing it in favor of other metrics.
True story: In the era of Reform Math, the significance of mastering mathematical concepts was downplayed. This shift was propagated under the guise of social engineering and psychological transformations, focusing on broader, less quantifiable outcomes.Emphasizing Growth: A Propaganda Term?
Meanwhile, the term growth has become a ubiquitous buzzword in educational circles. It is seen as a more positive and inclusive term, often used to describe psychological and social-emotional development. However, there is a stark difference in what growth and proficiency represent.
Growth is typically measured in the context of student performance improvement, often through standardized test scores. For instance, if a student can consistently correctly find a derivative 85% of the time, they are considered proficient. If that reliability improves to 90%, they are said to have shown growth.
Challenges in Measuring Growth
The current method of measuring growth in educational settings faces several significant challenges:
Single-Test Annual Assessment: Many educational institutions assess student growth based on a single test administered annually. This method is statistically invalid for determining an individual student's progress over time. Fluctuating Cohorts: Schools track performance by grade level, but due to high transience in urban areas, the specific children within these cohorts can change significantly from year to year, leading to unreliable data. Changing Standards: Each year, the standards being taught and measured change. A growth model based on different objectives is therefore not standardized, making comparisons and interpretations difficult.The Need for Proficiency-Based Education
Professorship in content mastery requires students to demonstrate a thorough understanding of the material before moving on to more advanced topics. This approach ensures that students have a solid foundation, preparing them better for future learning and real-world applications.
Current American education systems often prioritize growth over proficiency, leading to several issues:
Lack of Advanced Material: Schools may not advance students to more complex topics, even when they are likely to succeed, leading to a fragmented educational experience. Fractured Data: Measuring proficiency in a snapshot manner, while useful for setting broad goals, does not provide practical, actionable insights at the school level. Focus on Compliance: In the absence of true proficiency, schools are more likely to comply with government mandates, often at the expense of genuine student achievement.Reforming the system to ensure that students are truly proficient before advancing to more advanced material is essential. Only then can we achieve meaningful educational progress beyond merely meeting government-mandated objectives.
Key Takeaways:
Proficiency is about reliably performing a task, while growth measures the improvement over time. Growth is often used for social-emotional and psychological reasons, potentially at the expense of academic achievement. Reform is needed to focus on true proficiency, ensuring students have a solid foundation of knowledge before advancing.By prioritizing proficiency over growth alone, we can create a more robust and comprehensive education system that truly benefits students.