Math Scores Statewide Show Gains in 4th Grade - New York Times

Math Scores Statewide Show Gains in 4th Grade - New York Times

We all know the savvy can manipulate and spin statistics. That is a lesson taught in Statistics 101. It is an election year, and I want to be sure that these test taking students are genuinely representative of the previous year student demographics upon which the results are compared.

To that end:

Is there anyone reading this that can answer a few questions for me?

1. Were all the students who failed last year required to take these tests, or were they excluded?
2. Were all special education students required to take these tests, or were they excluded?
3. Were all ESL students required to take these tests, or were they excluded?
4. Were the tests really on par, in difficulty, with the past few years?

Teachers who administered them would know.

If any one has answers to the above questions regarding the reading scores, please respond also!

Thanks in advance!