How international tests fail to inform policy: The unsolved mystery of Australia’s steady decline in PISA scores

International Journal of Educational Development. 2018. Vol. 60. P. 60–79.

Morsy L., Khavenson T., Carnoy M.

Highlights

 

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Argues that explaining national declines in test scores is as important as explaining increases.

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Interviews with Australian experts on reasons for Australia’s large decline in PISA scores.

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Uses microdata from PISA and TIMSS scores to test expert explanations for decline.

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Finds that decline is pervasive across Australian states and social class groups.

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Finds that there is no clear explanation for the large decrease in Australia’s PISA scores.

Keywords: образовательная политика, качество образования, PISA, TIMSS, TIMSS, education policy, quality of education, Австралия, Australia, PISA, доказательная образовательная политика, evidence-based education policy, неравенство в образовании, social inequality in education, SES and achievement

Publication based on the results of: The characteristics of teachers and schools, educational results of students and the choice of educational trajectories in the context of social inequality (2018)