Scores will be broken down under different labels relating to a child's proficiency, and officials expect the results to look worse, even if kids aren't actually reading any worse. This spring's third-grade reading test will again involve three reading passages. Karbon said this time, unlike last, students will be asked to write a short answer to one question. The rest of the test will be multiple-choice answers. Some Milwaukee educators expressed concern that the tests, including last spring's, are not geared toward urban students who don't have as intellectually rich a background as many suburban students.
Officials say they have worked hard to try to avoid any cultural biases.