High stakes, no prep: These tests are designed to fail

[proud2BlibKansan]

Let’s face it – nobody likes taking tests. Exams, by nature, elicit a certain amount of anxiety. Tension. Maybe even fear.

But New York’s high-stakes standardized tests, given to all public school students, have rattled way more than a few nerves. Enough students have actually thrown up on their tests that schools are reportedly circulating procedures on how to handle vomit-covered tests.

One Long Island superintendent told the Wall Street Journal that some kids did, indeed, get sick on their tests. One student went to the bathroom and wouldn’t come out. Many dissolved into tears. Others simply refused to take the test.

It’s no wonder that parents, educators and even students are spearheading a small but growing revolution to opt out of standardized tests. From Seattle to Pennsylvania, more and more students across the country are boycotting tests that many say are increasing stress, narrowing curriculum and, at worst, leading to the kind of cheating exposed in the recent Atlanta Public Schools scandal.

More ... http://m.washingtonpost.com/opinions/katrina-vanden-heuvel-stakes-on-standardized-testing-are-too-high/2013/04/29/16e9e9d8-b0d5-11e2-bbf2-a6f9e9d79e19_story.html

[Klukie]

1. I really like the way this article is written.

Instead of aiming to tear down the Common Core standards, it discusses the failure of the rush to test within the standards. I have been listening closely to the debate surrounding the CCS for a while now, because I have a 2nd and 4th grader who will be active test cases for reform. I have also been watching closely, as our school district is altering curriculum to meet the new standards. So far I can report that our district is doing a remarkable job of it , but they do need the time. These standards appear much more advanced than what our students have been used to, but I will say that I don't view that as a bad thing. I really like the way they are teaching math. It is way more comprehensive and requires the students to explain in written form how they came up with the solution to a problem. As a parent, I have no problem with the testing, because I want to know what areas my child needs help in. I do have a problem with tying the test results to funding and teacher evaluations. I think the results of the testing should only be used for student accountability.