| Posted By |
Message |
beachgirl
LIF Adult

Member since 7/05 7967 total posts
Name: sara
|
State Testing
It's that time of year when we get the letter home from our kid's school alerting us to the upcoming state tests. Has anyone changed their minds -ie their kids took the test last year but will opt out this year OR kids did not test last year but will this year.
Looking for opinions from all - parents and teachers.
TIA
|
Posted 3/7/17 5:23 PM |
| |
|
Long Island Weddings
Long Island's Largest Bridal Resource |
StaceyLu
LIF Adolescent
Member since 2/17 572 total posts
Name: Stacey
|
Re: State Testing
I am continuing to opt out because the Common Core worksheets etc that my child is given are still rife with errors and inconsistencies (grammar, facts, etc).
|
Posted 3/7/17 8:19 PM |
| |
|
BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15660 total posts
Name:
|
State Testing
Opted out last year, and did the same this year.
|
Posted 3/7/17 9:55 PM |
| |
|
MrsM84
LIF Adult
Member since 2/13 2352 total posts
Name:
|
State Testing
I'm a public high school teacher here on LI and will opt my daughter out of these exams is they're still around by the time she gets to elementary school. From a teaching aspect, the exams are useless in the sense that we as educators cannot use them to guide instruction. Unless things have changed, teachers do not get to see the exams either before or after the test is administered. What is the point of state wide assessments if you can't use them as learning tools to help better prepare curriculum? I teach social studies in high school and the first common core version of the Global History Regents exam will be given in June 2019. It is a completely different test than the one currently being administered in terms of format and content/curriculum. My chairperson has repeatedly asked the state department of education for exemplar versions of the exams to be used as a teaching tool so that we can better prepare our students. His requests have been ignored time after time. It is likely that the students will take the new Regents without us teachers ever having seen the test and it's new format. They've provided a description of the test on their website, however, no actual sample questions have been included and everything is always "pending review" or "subject to change". I predict a significant decrease in grades and an increase in failures. Very sad considering this is a mandatory Regents exam for graduation (along with the US History Regents which will be common core in June 2020). Ridiculous.
|
Posted 3/8/17 12:20 AM |
| |
|
BargainMama
LIF Adult
Member since 5/09 15660 total posts
Name:
|
Re: State Testing
Posted by MrsM84
I'm a public high school teacher here on LI and will opt my daughter out of these exams is they're still around by the time she gets to elementary school. From a teaching aspect, the exams are useless in the sense that we as educators cannot use them to guide instruction. Unless things have changed, teachers do not get to see the exams either before or after the test is administered. What is the point of state wide assessments if you can't use them as learning tools to help better prepare curriculum? I teach social studies in high school and the first common core version of the Global History Regents exam will be given in June 2019. It is a completely different test than the one currently being administered in terms of format and content/curriculum. My chairperson has repeatedly asked the state department of education for exemplar versions of the exams to be used as a teaching tool so that we can better prepare our students. His requests have been ignored time after time. It is likely that the students will take the new Regents without us teachers ever having seen the test and it's new format. They've provided a description of the test on their website, however, no actual sample questions have been included and everything is always "pending review" or "subject to change". I predict a significant decrease in grades and an increase in failures. Very sad considering this is a mandatory Regents exam for graduation (along with the US History Regents which will be common core in June 2020). Ridiculous.
The Global Studies Regent's is HARD! SO HARD! My son passed it, but barely (he is in special education, so was allowed to pass with a 62). I can't even imagine throwing CC into that mix. I'm so glad he is graduating this year! (with a diploma at that!).
My 4th grader's teacher is definitely pro testing (he is not the norm in our district at all!). It drives me bonkers how much test prep is going on in her class, and meanwhile like 85% of our district opts out. My daughter is smart, the kids in her class are smart...this class is more of an "advanced class" (for lack of a better word),which moves at a much faster pace than the rest of the classes in her school, and is heavy heavy testing, and many of the tests are on like an 8th grade level. It's insane to me. So my decision isn't because I don't think she would do well. It's more because the tests are useless. I know if she is doing well based on the multiple tests this teacher gives every single week.
|
Posted 3/8/17 7:01 AM |
| |
|
Diane
Hope is Contagious....catch it

Member since 5/05 30683 total posts
Name: D
|
Re: State Testing
Continuing to opt my one son out. However, when they get to the high school, they will not have that choice.
|
Posted 3/8/17 8:04 AM |
| |
|
Sweetlax22
LIF Adult

Member since 5/10 1904 total posts
Name:
|
Re: State Testing
Posted by Diane
Continuing to opt my one son out. However, when they get to the high school, they will not have that choice.
I only have babies so I hope and pray that things will be fixed by the time they get to school, but because of this is why I am not gun ho about opting out, maybe I would rather them get used to taking stupid hard tests when they are younger and they don't count for anything so when they have to take stupid hard tests that count they will be more comfortable.
|
Posted 3/8/17 8:15 AM |
| |
|