Would you say there just might be a real problem with a school test if parents aren't allowed to see them, even after they're done?

It depends on what the test is used for. Evaluation of the school or the teacher or the curriculum? Okay.

Placement of the child or grading of the child? Okay to keep confidential, provided there is a process for remedying a result that is both inconsistent with the child’s general achievement level, and also acts to the detriment of the child.

It’s the ELA (English-Language-Arts) tests that the kids take at the end of the year. Parents aren’t allowed to see their kid’s results. They aren’t even allowed to see the test itself.

It’s like a parent calling to ask how a kid did on their math exam and the teacher refuses to tell them, and refuses to let them see the kid’s test at all.

I would have a REAL problem with that.

That is just insane. Why on earth would the school system keep any test results secret from the parents?
I remember my parents always…oho, maybe it is because the children who don’t do well are being beaten by their parents in an attempt to make them do better.
Other than that it is a silly rule.

The thing is, Dan, they aren’t allowed to see the tests period. They can’t even see what kinds of questions the tests are asking before the kids even take the tests.

It probably isn’t but if it’s a real science test I could see teaching kids real science so they can be prepared for a real job in the real world and then not showing parents the test so they wouldn’t have to deal with those who still claim Eve gave Adam an apple.

But I doubt that completely, It’s probably a curriculum evaluation test as noted.

I was part of a long ago NYC study that tested select kids from each school for IQ throughout their school years; 1st to 12th. The results were never provided to parents or the students although eventually the averaged IQ did become available if requested after age 18.

Read the article @non_omnis_moriar. It’s not a “curriculum evaluation test.” It’s not a science test. It’s an end of year test the kids take to determine what they’ve learned in English, Language and Arts. The parents aren’t allowed to see the tests their children are taking. ALL of the children take them, not a select few. The parents aren’t allowed to see them before their kids take the test and the aren’t allowed to see them after the kids take the test.

I, personally, would have a real problem with anyone keeping my child’s information from me.

They do it so that they always have the option of modifiying the outcomes to make the schools and the NEA look better if they need to.
In the city where I live, there was massive fraud involving student performance and attendance records. It could not have happened if the system were transparent.

I’m betting someone brings a lawsuit. I would if I had the means.

Within the article you linked was this link about the opt out movement which allows for a different test for the children if the parents so choose.
Parents didn’t used to be able to see the completed SATs (I don’t know about now) and major exam papers also weren’t sent home.
From what I read, the children were not being sworn to secrecy about the test contents, which might, indeed, be illegal, so other than this being an annoying and somewhat questionable issue, I don’t think it’s that big of a deal.
Every new wave of educational reform brings with it outrage, then things settle until the next time. That’s not to say that the system works, just that this, too, shall pass.

SATs are given to adults getting ready for college. We’re talking about K-12 children.
They also don’t give “major exams” to elementary school children.
I always had access to all of my children’s work. All I had to do was ask.

Dutchess_III wrote: We’re talking about K-12 children.

PSAT’s and SAT’s are given to high school kids grades 10 to 12.

PSATs and SATs are usually given to minor children. The state mandated tests for younger children were able to be seen by parents (after completion) only after special requests were made to appropriate Ed authorities.
My point was that this is probably not the battle to fight, as there are options that are clearly stated in the article that you linked to.
There may also be regional differences.

It’s not my battle to fight.

“I’m betting someone brings a lawsuit. I would if I had the means.”

That statement suggested otherwise. My mistake.

My kids are grown. When they were small, if they denied me access to their records, I’d sue if I had the means.

Seems they restrict it either to:
1) cover their butt, in case the grading was not objective
2) prevent cheating because they never change the test questions year to year

The article said this year’s test was much more difficult than last year’s.

What’s even the point of learning if you don’t get to go over the concepts you got wrong? It hurts the child more than it does the parents.