When above-average kids ace the test, it’s an indication of their ability and they have opportunities like Credit by exam that will move them to a higher grade level where they’ll be challenged. I agree with you about testing special needs children on par with the other kids…it doesn’t make any sense and just sets children up for failure.

I live in an exemplary school district but the school that my kids go to is rated “Acceptable” because of the transient nature of the demographics that feed into the school and there have been plenty of transfers due to that. But my children have always had the best instructors and teachers that have worked very hard to ensure that they are constantly learning. With a student population of 20-22 in each class and diverse learning groups and levels in every class, I think, our teachers face a monumental task.

As I mentioned before using the TAKS to compare and rate schools is useless since the population that generates that data is so diverse. All it results in are ignorant parents equating the scores to the quality of teaching. Like you said, maybe we need some other tests that can measure individual progress and growth in learning and not have these scores linked to schools performance or ranking. Not having the results tied into school performance will allow educators to focus on each child’s improvement and take the pressure of the schools. But some sort of assessment is necessary otherwise there will be no accountability.

When above-average kids ace the test, it’s an indication of their ability and they have opportunities like Credit by exam that will move them to a higher grade level where they’ll be challenged. I agree with you about testing special needs children on par with the other kids…it doesn’t make any sense and just sets children up for failure.

I live in an exemplary school district but the school that my kids go to is rated “Acceptable” because of the transient nature of the demographics that feed into the school and there have been plenty of transfers due to that. But my children have always had the best instructors and teachers that have worked very hard to ensure that they are constantly learning. With a student population of 20-22 in each class and diverse learning groups and levels in every class, I think, our teachers face a monumental task.

As I mentioned before using the TAKS to compare and rate schools is useless since the population that generates that data is so diverse. All it results in are ignorant parents equating the scores to the quality of teaching. Like you said, maybe we need some other tests that can measure individual progress and growth in learning and not have these scores linked to schools performance or ranking. Not having the results tied into school performance will allow educators to focus on each child’s improvement and take the pressure of the schools. But some sort of assessment is necessary otherwise there will be no accountability.

Why are the tests like the TAKS, such high stakes tests? Take a look at who is on the school board. My guess, if your community is like ours, it is real estate developers. Why would they want to be on the school board? Because if the schools are good, people will want to move to your town and they make money. How do people know if you have good schools? The state ratings from the TAKS. So the pressure is put on the principals, who put pressure on the teachers who are suppose to get EVERY kid over the mark no matter what the student’s ability or the fact that dad knocked mom around the night before the test.

We all want to believe it is about the kids. I believe that for the teachers, it is about the kids. Above that, though, it is about the test score because somewhere it is linked with either keeping their job or making money. The kids are just the means for making a buck. I worked in administration and got out of it this being one of the reasons why. The districts use the kids. Do they want the kids to do well? Yes BUT their first priority is the score. I sat in meeting after meeting where this fact was abundantly clear.

I agree that schools need to be held accountable for student progress. I don’t believe the current system is the way to do it. I understand North Carolina tests the progress of the student from year to year. Maybe if there is someone out there who knows more about that system, he/she could chime in.

Why are the tests like the TAKS, such high stakes tests? Take a look at who is on the school board. My guess, if your community is like ours, it is real estate developers. Why would they want to be on the school board? Because if the schools are good, people will want to move to your town and they make money. How do people know if you have good schools? The state ratings from the TAKS. So the pressure is put on the principals, who put pressure on the teachers who are suppose to get EVERY kid over the mark no matter what the student’s ability or the fact that dad knocked mom around the night before the test.

We all want to believe it is about the kids. I believe that for the teachers, it is about the kids. Above that, though, it is about the test score because somewhere it is linked with either keeping their job or making money. The kids are just the means for making a buck. I worked in administration and got out of it this being one of the reasons why. The districts use the kids. Do they want the kids to do well? Yes BUT their first priority is the score. I sat in meeting after meeting where this fact was abundantly clear.

I agree that schools need to be held accountable for student progress. I don’t believe the current system is the way to do it. I understand North Carolina tests the progress of the student from year to year. Maybe if there is someone out there who knows more about that system, he/she could chime in.

But the state tests are really, a test of the basic knowledge and skills that students need to know. It’s definitely not the only thing that the students are learning in class but is ceratianly a good way of assessing where the students stand. The pressure on the schools and teachers happens when there is a comparison across the board without reference to the demographics and too much emphasis placed on the school’s ranking. And of course the pressure on kids with special needs.

One of the changes I’d like to see is testing that is not based on multiple-choice format but more on short-answer format. Europe and Asia have always followed that system. I think this will be beneficial to the students because they can explain their knowledge of concepts and based on that the teachers can adapt their teaching strategies to better address the holes in learning.

But the state tests are really, a test of the basic knowledge and skills that students need to know. It’s definitely not the only thing that the students are learning in class but is ceratianly a good way of assessing where the students stand. The pressure on the schools and teachers happens when there is a comparison across the board without reference to the demographics and too much emphasis placed on the school’s ranking. And of course the pressure on kids with special needs.

One of the changes I’d like to see is testing that is not based on multiple-choice format but more on short-answer format. Europe and Asia have always followed that system. I think this will be beneficial to the students because they can explain their knowledge of concepts and based on that the teachers can adapt their teaching strategies to better address the holes in learning.