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Started By
Message
State testing in the schools is out of control
Posted on 3/27/19 at 11:24 am
Posted on 3/27/19 at 11:24 am
Look, I understand the need to have an annual standardized test. We want to make sure that kids in the same grade, no matter what school district they are in, are exposed to the same material.
I also know that if we just left it up to each school and teacher, we would have runaway grade inflation and little to no standards. Remember, Louisiana got the abomination known as LEAP, because in the 90s, we had kids graduating valedictorian from schools with a 4.5 GPA and getting 16s on the ACT and needing college remedial classes.
So, a reasonable annual standard assessment is something I support.
My 5th grader starts LEAP 2025 next week. Over 6 days (Wed-Fri of week 1, Mon-Wed of week 2), she will take standardized tests that total 14 hours and 50 minutes. Everything is geared toward these tests. And this is for 5th grade, they take tests every year.
Now, the CPA exam - an exam that is used by a pretty honorable profession, as adults, and we only have to take it once (if we pass), is 16 hours over four days, and you can spread those four days out over as long as 18 months.
There is absolutely no reason for us to have high-pressure, high-stakes, long-arse tests for elementary and middle school age kids. Even for high school kids, it's too much.
I also know that if we just left it up to each school and teacher, we would have runaway grade inflation and little to no standards. Remember, Louisiana got the abomination known as LEAP, because in the 90s, we had kids graduating valedictorian from schools with a 4.5 GPA and getting 16s on the ACT and needing college remedial classes.
So, a reasonable annual standard assessment is something I support.
My 5th grader starts LEAP 2025 next week. Over 6 days (Wed-Fri of week 1, Mon-Wed of week 2), she will take standardized tests that total 14 hours and 50 minutes. Everything is geared toward these tests. And this is for 5th grade, they take tests every year.
Now, the CPA exam - an exam that is used by a pretty honorable profession, as adults, and we only have to take it once (if we pass), is 16 hours over four days, and you can spread those four days out over as long as 18 months.
There is absolutely no reason for us to have high-pressure, high-stakes, long-arse tests for elementary and middle school age kids. Even for high school kids, it's too much.
17
Posted on 3/27/19 at 11:25 am to LSUFanHouston
Not reading all that but agreed. And the teachers scare the shite out of the kids too
Posted on 3/27/19 at 11:26 am to LSUFanHouston
quote:
graduating valedictorian from schools with a 4.5 GPA and getting 16s on the ACT
That seems odd. While the top people in my class weren't getting 36s they were getting into the 30s on the ACT. Now the ACT is starting to super score you. Basically taking your best individual scores and then giving you a composite. When I took it, it was best overall score. Scores are about to get inflated.
Posted on 3/27/19 at 11:26 am to LSUFanHouston
We had leap in 4th and 8th grade. shite was miserable and schools get funding based on the test scores so it’s all you learn. It’s a bad way to do things.
Posted on 3/27/19 at 11:27 am to LSUFanHouston
quote:
There is absolutely no reason for us to have high-pressure, high-stakes, long-arse tests for elementary and middle school age kids.
Meh, I only remember them as the days I got to listen to my portable CD player in school when I finished 45 minutes early.
Posted on 3/27/19 at 11:27 am to LSUFanHouston
Trust someone who works in the system, it's completely out of control, and most teachers, administrators, and students all feel the same way.
It's getting worse each year.
The State DOE is mostly a joke.
It's getting worse each year.
The State DOE is mostly a joke.
This post was edited on 3/27/19 at 11:29 am
Posted on 3/27/19 at 11:27 am to LSUFanHouston
<—— TAAS survivor
Posted on 3/27/19 at 11:28 am to musick
quote:
Trust someone who works in the system
Pfft... Like I'm gonna take the word of a biased union lackey.
Posted on 3/27/19 at 11:29 am to DavidTheGnome
quote:
Not reading all that but agreed. And the teachers scare the shite out of the kids too
#Pushies
It’s a simple reading test. Take it and life goes on after.
Posted on 3/27/19 at 11:31 am to LSUFanHouston
quote:
Over 6 days (Wed-Fri of week 1, Mon-Wed of week 2), she will take standardized tests that total 14 hours and 50 minutes
Also, we practice test 3 times a year. Add all of that up and we test or practice test our students for 1 month out of the school year.
Posted on 3/27/19 at 11:37 am to LSUFanHouston
I like the testing. Keeps things honest.
My oldest is just in 1st grade so maybe I don't have a great perspective on this but they take the academic progress (MAP) test beginning, mid, and end of year. Each time it spans two days but I think only a couple of hours each day. So probably about 12 hours total for the year on their version of the standardized test. However, I get more value out of those test results than I get out of a 1st grade report card/teacher feedback at this point.
My oldest is just in 1st grade so maybe I don't have a great perspective on this but they take the academic progress (MAP) test beginning, mid, and end of year. Each time it spans two days but I think only a couple of hours each day. So probably about 12 hours total for the year on their version of the standardized test. However, I get more value out of those test results than I get out of a 1st grade report card/teacher feedback at this point.
This post was edited on 3/27/19 at 1:13 pm
Posted on 3/27/19 at 11:40 am to DavidTheGnome
quote:
And the teachers scare the shite out of the kids too
i work at a school (not a teacher) but they have as much pressure on them as the kids. it all falls back on them if the kids dont pass, and they can lose their job. The state tests are a joke
Posted on 3/27/19 at 11:42 am to LSUFanHouston
quote:
Look, I understand the need to have an annual standardized test. We want to make sure that kids in the same grade, no matter what school district they are in, are exposed to the same material.
Add to this, the schools stop teaching any new material after spring break now. As soon as they get back from the break they do nothing but prepare the students for the test, and then as soon as the tests are over, they just party till summer.
Posted on 3/27/19 at 11:46 am to LSUFanHouston
I remember the TAKS testing days. I loved it, I’d get done early and frick around for a few hours.
Posted on 3/27/19 at 11:48 am to Areddishfish
quote:
graduating valedictorian from schools with a 4.5 GPA and getting 16s on the ACT
That seems odd.
Check The Advocate in about two months when the post all the Valedictorians.
Posted on 3/27/19 at 11:52 am to elposter
quote:
My oldest is just in 1st grade so maybe I don't have a great perspective on thi
Before my kids got to the age they are, I didn't see a single thing wrong with LEAP. Hell, I was a huge supporter of rigorous annual testing.
This is not what I thought it would be. 4 tests, an hour each, at the end of the year, should be more than enough to keep the students and schools honest. 15 hours of testing over 6 days is insane.
quote:
Each time it spans two days but I think only a couple of hours each day. So probably bout 12 hours total for the year
That would be much more reasonable than what LEAP has become.
Posted on 3/27/19 at 12:10 pm to musick
quote:
it's completely out of control, and most teachers, administrators, all feel the same way.
I call BS. If this were true then we wouldn't be in the mess we are in. If all the teachers and administrators went on strike over the issue, it would be changed very quickly.
Kids in public school take countless "benchmark" standardized tests throughout the year on top of the LEAP etc. But it will never change and we will have generations of students who can pass a test but are unable to apply the test knowledge they learned to real life scenarios.
Posted on 3/27/19 at 12:17 pm to LSUFanHouston
quote:
My 5th grader starts LEAP 2025 next week. Over 6 days (Wed-Fri of week 1, Mon-Wed of week 2), she will take standardized tests that total 14 hours and 50 minutes. Everything is geared toward these tests. And this is for 5th grade, they take tests every year.
Now, the CPA exam - an exam that is used by a pretty honorable profession, as adults, and we only have to take it once (if we pass), is 16 hours over four days, and you can spread those four days out over as long as 18 months.
Posted on 3/27/19 at 12:19 pm to Cump11b
This post was edited on 1/13/21 at 8:05 am
Posted on 3/27/19 at 12:19 pm to Cump11b
quote:
If all the teachers and administrators went on strike over the issue, it would be changed very quickly.
Most of Louisiana doesn't have an effective teachers union. (Not that they should).
But BESE is going to do what BESE wants to do. And while the rank and file teachers and some principals may be against all this, most of the higher level admins and superintendents don't see any issues and sure as hell don't speak out about it. And in the rare instance BESE seeks input, that's where they get it from.
The teachers don't want to rock the boat when they know it won't change anything.
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