I believe we were just discussing this.

[dizzycooks]

www.npr.org/blogs/ed/2015/04/20/400396254/anti-test-opt-out-movement-makes-a-wave-in-new-york-state

[Kcthepouchh8r]

I'm in a local facebook group and a mom posted info on opting out right around the same time it was discussed here. We will most definitely be a family that's opting out.

[andrewsgal]

We will not opt out. I honestly think that's not the way to go about this. If kids fail in highschool they don't graduate. I don't want the first time my kid takes this test to be the one that literally decides his future.

[andrewsgal]

Not to mention I would literally have to keep them home for the next month. Which means they would miss a month of school every year from third on.

[Rainyday]

That was actually my next question, where do kids go that opt out? Do they have to stay home?

[dizzycooks]

Apr 20, 2015 8:51:15 GMT -5 andrewsgal said:

Not to mention I would literally have to keep them home for the next month. Which means they would miss a month of school every year from third on.

I agree that keeping them home isn't the answer.  I am not impressed that we are spending this much time testing though.  I doubt opting out is the answer, but it might be the most visible respond.  Here you don't need to stay home, parents just fill out a paper and the kid spends the class period/day (that testing is occuring) in the library or somewhere else.  They go to all their other classes.

[Kcthepouchh8r]

Apr 20, 2015 8:51:15 GMT -5 andrewsgal said:

Not to mention I would literally have to keep them home for the next month. Which means they would miss a month of school every year from third on.

Of the people I know locally who opted out they sent a letter to school saying that they didn't want their child to participate and sent a book to read while the test was taking place.

I don't think you need standardized yearly testing to be successful. I'm sure plenty of us did well on SATs after all.

[andrewsgal]

Apr 20, 2015 8:56:57 GMT -5 Kcthepouchh8r said:

Apr 20, 2015 8:51:15 GMT -5 andrewsgal said:

Not to mention I would literally have to keep them home for the next month. Which means they would miss a month of school every year from third on.

Of the people I know locally who opted out they sent a letter to school saying that they didn't want their child to participate and sent a book to read while the test was taking place.

I don't think you need standardized yearly testing to be successful. I'm sure plenty of us did well on SATs after all.

There is not opt out here and I wasn't talking about the SAT. You have to take and pass the state test to actually graduate high school here. 

[NandaB]

Well I did do standardized tests every year and dud shitty on my SAT, so there's that.

I'm considering opting them all out for elementary school. They don't learn anything those weeks anyway. I mean, some teachers teach in the afternoon, but there is little learning going on

[NandaB]

Apr 20, 2015 9:12:49 GMT -5 andrewsgal said:

Apr 20, 2015 8:56:57 GMT -5 Kcthepouchh8r said:

Of the people I know locally who opted out they sent a letter to school saying that they didn't want their child to participate and sent a book to read while the test was taking place.

I don't think you need standardized yearly testing to be successful. I'm sure plenty of us did well on SATs after all.

There is not opt out here and I wasn't talking about the SAT. You have to take and pass the state test to actually graduate high school here. 

You could teach them to be conscientious test objectors, lol. They can sit and refuse to wrote anything. There is a bubble yhr teacher fills on for that) but in reality I wouldn't want to put my young kid in that position

[trizzie]

I do not know what I am going to do. The tests are ridiculous and the stress put on the kids is ridiculous. Now i have DS's blood sugars to worry about on top of it. the type one groups i am in post about how much it impacts their kids sugars and it kills me.

[andrewsgal]

Apr 20, 2015 9:16:44 GMT -5 NandaB said:

Apr 20, 2015 9:12:49 GMT -5 andrewsgal said:

There is not opt out here and I wasn't talking about the SAT. You have to take and pass the state test to actually graduate high school here. 

You could teach them to be conscientious test objectors, lol. They can sit and refuse to wrote anything. There is a bubble yhr teacher fills on for that) but in reality I wouldn't want to put my young kid in that position

Nope this is my issue that would a totally unfair burden to put on a 9 year old.

[andrewsgal]

Who the fuck is talking about the SAT?

[amynumbers]

We will likely be opt outers if the current trend of test prep time and what the scores are used for continues. My guess is in PA is will likely not.

I am not anti standardized test -- but it's a joke if you need that much time for prep. A good standardized test should be testing a curriculum already in place.

I also think there is a good long time between now and when my kids are in the third grade, and then when they are on the 3rd grade and in high school.

[Deleted]

Apr 20, 2015 8:51:15 GMT -5 andrewsgal said:

Not to mention I would literally have to keep them home for the next month. Which means they would miss a month of school every year from third on.

For kids that opt out, the school must provide an alternative activity, at least that's what the NYS Ed website says.

[Deleted]

Apr 20, 2015 8:55:49 GMT -5 dizzycooks said:

Apr 20, 2015 8:51:15 GMT -5 andrewsgal said:

Not to mention I would literally have to keep them home for the next month. Which means they would miss a month of school every year from third on.

I agree that keeping them home isn't the answer.  I am not impressed that we are spending this much time testing though.  I doubt opting out is the answer, but it might be the most visible respond.  Here you don't need to stay home, parents just fill out a paper and the kid spends the class period/day (that testing is occuring) in the library or somewhere else.  They go to all their other classes.

The most recent numbers say at least 20% of kids in grades 3-8 were opted out of testing in NYS. Given the way the tests were structured and written, I understand why parents opt out. But the tests, how they are written and the content, needs to be revamped. Maybe a massive opt-out movement will be able to accomplish that.

[Kcthepouchh8r]

Apr 20, 2015 9:12:49 GMT -5 andrewsgal said:

Apr 20, 2015 8:56:57 GMT -5 Kcthepouchh8r said:

Of the people I know locally who opted out they sent a letter to school saying that they didn't want their child to participate and sent a book to read while the test was taking place.

I don't think you need standardized yearly testing to be successful. I'm sure plenty of us did well on SATs after all.

There is not opt out here and I wasn't talking about the SAT. You have to take and pass the state test to actually graduate high school here. 

I realize you weren't talking about the SATs. I'm saying we grew up In a time prior to ridiculously long standardized testing yearly and were still able to successfully accomplish standardized testing when it counted.

[Kcthepouchh8r]

Apr 20, 2015 9:13:26 GMT -5 NandaB said:

Well I did do standardized tests every year and dud shitty on my SAT, so there's that.

I'm considering opting them all out for elementary school. They don't learn anything those weeks anyway. I mean, some teachers teach in the afternoon, but there is little learning going on

I'll probably plan a Yearly family vacation around that time of year.

[chatterbox]

Apr 20, 2015 11:00:53 GMT -5 @mrsmuq said:

Apr 20, 2015 8:55:49 GMT -5 dizzycooks said:

I agree that keeping them home isn't the answer.  I am not impressed that we are spending this much time testing though.  I doubt opting out is the answer, but it might be the most visible respond.  Here you don't need to stay home, parents just fill out a paper and the kid spends the class period/day (that testing is occuring) in the library or somewhere else.  They go to all their other classes.

The most recent numbers say at least 20% of kids in grades 3-8 were opted out of testing in NYS. Given the way the tests were structured and written, I understand why parents opt out. But the tests, how they are written and the content, needs to be revamped. Maybe a massive opt-out movement will be able to accomplish that.

I saw that some districts on Long Island had over 50% of students opt out!

If things don't change by the time DD is in 3rd grade, then I will have her opt out. I'm only familiar with NY, but the tests are poorly written and not developmentally appropriate. In my opinion, if a student needs to be "prepped" in order to understand how to take a test, then it's a poorly written test. I'm not opposed to standardized tests if they are fair and used in the right way, as a tool to plan and improve instruction. Not as a way to label students and punish teachers.

[andrewsgal]

Apr 20, 2015 11:07:56 GMT -5 Kcthepouchh8r said:

Apr 20, 2015 9:12:49 GMT -5 andrewsgal said:

There is not opt out here and I wasn't talking about the SAT. You have to take and pass the state test to actually graduate high school here. 

I realize you weren't talking about the SATs. I'm saying we grew up In a time prior to ridiculously long standardized testing yearly and were still able to successfully accomplish standardized testing when it counted.

Um I took yearly standardized tests every year from third grade on. The tests now are ridiculous and pointless but standardized testing in itself is not new. Like I said there is no opt out here and the teachers have a solid month for makeups. There is no way out right now. Both of my older kids will be fine I will re evaluate when DS faces then if need be.

[lala]

Apr 20, 2015 11:22:12 GMT -5 andrewsgal said:

Apr 20, 2015 11:07:56 GMT -5 Kcthepouchh8r said:

I realize you weren't talking about the SATs. I'm saying we grew up In a time prior to ridiculously long standardized testing yearly and were still able to successfully accomplish standardized testing when it counted.

Um I took yearly standardized tests every year from third grade on. The tests now are ridiculous and pointless but standardized testing in itself is not new. Like I said there is no opt out here and the teachers have a solid month for makeups. There is no way out right now. Both of my older kids will be fine I will re evaluate when DS faces then if need be.

Yea, we took them every year from 2nd or 4rd on. Then in 8th grade there was the Early Warning Test which helped figure out who would need help passing the test needed to graduate high school - the HSPT, High School Proficiency Test. There was also some kind of practice HSPT, too, in HS. I was good at standardized tests and it wasn't stressful at all - but it was only 1 week, maybe even half days, no homework or other learning, just playing & recess when we weren't testing that week. My one sister struggled greatly and it was very stressful for her, even w/o the school making a big deal out of it. 

Now, the tests take 3-4 weeks, much different environment, more stress, more test prep, etc. 

[andrewsgal]

Apr 20, 2015 11:30:39 GMT -5 lala said:

Apr 20, 2015 11:22:12 GMT -5 andrewsgal said:

Um I took yearly standardized tests every year from third grade on. The tests now are ridiculous and pointless but standardized testing in itself is not new. Like I said there is no opt out here and the teachers have a solid month for makeups. There is no way out right now. Both of my older kids will be fine I will re evaluate when DS faces then if need be.

Yea, we took them every year from 2nd or 4rd on. Then in 8th grade there was the Early Warning Test which helped figure out who would need help passing the test needed to graduate high school - the HSPT, High School Proficiency Test. There was also some kind of practice HSPT, too, in HS. I was good at standardized tests and it wasn't stressful at all - but it was only 1 week, maybe even half days, no homework or other learning, just playing & recess when we weren't testing that week. My one sister struggled greatly and it was very stressful for her, even w/o the school making a big deal out of it. 

Now, the tests take 3-4 weeks, much different environment, more stress, more test prep, etc. 

I have to say in texas the most kids test is 4 days total and not in a row.

[lala]

I have no idea how many hours/days they're actually testing, good point. I know it's listed on the calendar for 3ish weeks.

[Kcthepouchh8r]

Apr 20, 2015 11:22:12 GMT -5 andrewsgal said:

Apr 20, 2015 11:07:56 GMT -5 Kcthepouchh8r said:

I realize you weren't talking about the SATs. I'm saying we grew up In a time prior to ridiculously long standardized testing yearly and were still able to successfully accomplish standardized testing when it counted.

Um I took yearly standardized tests every year from third grade on. The tests now are ridiculous and pointless but standardized testing in itself is not new. Like I said there is no opt out here and the teachers have a solid month for makeups. There is no way out right now. Both of my older kids will be fine I will re evaluate when DS faces then if need be.

I didn't mean to imply we grew up in an era free from standardized testing but the tests now are far different than when we were kids. Your argument was you wanted your kids to take them because if they didn't they might not be ready when they're in high school and I was making the point we all didn't have these kinds of weeks long testing yearly as kids and yet we generally speaking managed to do well on tests that counted as high schoolers.

Honestly my kids academic performance will mean squat. Either way I will opt out.

[Deleted]

Apr 20, 2015 11:18:59 GMT -5 chatterbox said:

Apr 20, 2015 11:00:53 GMT -5 @mrsmuq said:

The most recent numbers say at least 20% of kids in grades 3-8 were opted out of testing in NYS. Given the way the tests were structured and written, I understand why parents opt out. But the tests, how they are written and the content, needs to be revamped. Maybe a massive opt-out movement will be able to accomplish that.

I saw that some districts on Long Island had over 50% of students opt out!

If things don't change by the time DD is in 3rd grade, then I will have her opt out. I'm only familiar with NY, but the tests are poorly written and not developmentally appropriate. In my opinion, if a student needs to be "prepped" in order to understand how to take a test, then it's a poorly written test. I'm not opposed to standardized tests if they are fair and used in the right way, as a tool to plan and improve instruction. Not as a way to label students and punish teachers.

Some districts had as many as 70-80% of kids being opted out.

I don't have a problem with standardized tests, but I do have a problem with the form they take right now and the absurd idea put forth last year to start standardized testing in K/1st grade.

[amynumbers]

Big dork checking in here -- I freaking loved taking standardized tests as a kid. And I loved the SATs!

I knew they didn't impact grades, but I knew what those percentile a meant and it totally lit a fire under me.

But tests today are different -- greater stakes, intense prep. We never had prep as a kid outside of "Remember your number two pencils and a clean eraser for tomorrow."

I actually think there are lots of positives to a GOOD standardized test system. It's good to test curriculum, it's good for public schools to get an overall picture of performance (and individual performance) and honestly it's a good skill to develop.

But today's tests aren't that.

[rosesandpetals]

The only standardized tests I ever took were the SAT, SAT II, and the AP tests. I hate those bubbles. I was always worried I'd be outside the lines and get it wrong, or not erase all the way and get it wrong, or skip one line. But I also knew what was riding on the test so that probably contributed to the anxiety.

I think the attitude surrounding the test is a much bigger deal than the test itself. The pressure put on kids to do well is undoubtedly related to the effect the scores have on their teachers. I'm hoping by the time DD gets there, the tests will be improved but I know that is dreaming.

[andrewsgal]

Apr 20, 2015 12:17:03 GMT -5 Kcthepouchh8r said:

Apr 20, 2015 11:22:12 GMT -5 andrewsgal said:

Um I took yearly standardized tests every year from third grade on. The tests now are ridiculous and pointless but standardized testing in itself is not new. Like I said there is no opt out here and the teachers have a solid month for makeups. There is no way out right now. Both of my older kids will be fine I will re evaluate when DS faces then if need be.

I didn't mean to imply we grew up in an era free from standardized testing but the tests now are far different than when we were kids. Your argument was you wanted your kids to take them because if they didn't they might not be ready when they're in high school and I was making the point we all didn't have these kinds of weeks long testing yearly as kids and yet we generally speaking managed to do well on tests that counted as high schoolers.

Honestly my kids academic performance will mean squat. Either way I will opt out.

You missed the point again. Let me spell it out slowly.
1. Our kids have to pass the state standardized test to graduate.
2. As much as I hate the test I don't want the first time they take it to be when graduation is riding on it.
3. Our state test were not a requirement for graduation. Now they are.
4. If your state is spending multiple weeks testing they are worse than our state and that's hard. 
5. Just like kinder is the new first these test are totally different than what we grew up with. Just because we did fine doesn't mean jack.

[amynumbers]

Just to throw it out there, everyone if administering the tests in a different way. In PA it is for a few hours each morning a few days a week over I believe 2-3 weeks. The rest of the day is regular instruction -- so just planning a family vacation won't work, and it's not necessarily horrible that they have "multiple weeks" of testing.

[andrewsgal]

Apr 20, 2015 13:59:11 GMT -5 amynumbers said:

Just to throw it out there, everyone if administering the tests in a different way. In PA it is for a few hours each morning a few days a week over I believe 2-3 weeks. The rest of the day is regular instruction -- so just planning a family vacation won't work, and it's not necessarily horrible that they have "multiple weeks" of testing.

 Ours are 5 days max, not consecutive 3 hours a day max. The 8th graders take the most tests and their schedule was.

march 5th- reading 
april 20- math
april 21st-science
april 22nd-social studies