great article for those on the fence about "opting out"

Shockingly found in Newsday:

http://www.newsday.com/opinion/oped/state-testing-not-what-s-best-for-our-students-1.11496363

Message edited 2/22/2016 7:36:14 PM.

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Message edited 3/20/2016 9:41:09 PM.

Re: great article for those on the fence about "opting out"

Fantastic article. So happy it was published. Michael Hynes is a hero to me and worked so hard to get this in Newsday after what happened with their last article of lies. He truly is an education advocate for all children.

Re: great article for those on the fence about "opting out"

Re: great article for those on the fence about "opting out"

This is a letter from Michael Hynes to parents in regards to their options for opting out.
I loved this!

great article for those on the fence about

I wish I could move there! Not an option for my family, but really hope that other districts with start to follow his lead!

Re: great article for those on the fence about "opting out"

I wish our district and Superintendent was like Pat-Med/Hynes as well, but instead we received a "fear mongering" letter from our Superintendent. Unfortunately I feel like most of the parents in our district have no understanding about these tests, let alone the bigger picture and what's at stake.

Re: great article for those on the fence about "opting out"

Re: great article for those on the fence about "opting out"

Re: great article for those on the fence about "opting out"

Re: great article for those on the fence about "opting out"

We got a similar letter from the principal. It's nice to know there is no pressure coming from the school

great article for those on the fence about

Sorry but I'm confused. And I didn't go to school in TX or NY for grade school at that age. So let me ask.

Doesn't EVERYONE always take State exams from 3rd through 8th? Didn't we all take them? I remember doing it in VA & CA and it wasn't that big of a deal.

There's a lot of grumbles and complaints here about the standardized tests that start in 3rd grade, but I really don't understand why. Of all the tests I've taken those never really bothered me, stressed me or even blimped on my radar. Just a few days a year I had to sit and take a test. School freaked out about it, teachers got all serious about it but really I couldn't have cared less.

Now my own daughter is in 'benchmarking' at 2nd grade for the same. I really didn't bother. "Make sure your child has a good breakfast, rests well and is prepared for the exam" really? why? If you did your job and she does her job, there's no worry. Hey kid, you're taking a test, do your best. I'm not going to stress her or prep her for something that's just the same of whatever else she's working on.

So what is the big deal about standardized testing? I don't disagree they are useless for the most part. Never up to par with what my knowledge was. It was always below what I knew. Our exit level exams were (to me) a joke. God knows my teachers were MUCH harder on us than those tests ever were. But I thought EVERYONE took standardized tests NTBS (National Test of Basic Skills)? It was always fun to see how I ranked nationally in % against others in my grade. It was constant in every state I went to. Every other year. It's where I learned that some idiot thinks I can spell LOL I cannot but those tests seem to think I can. They also pushed me into easy peasy honors and allowed me to take GT/AP testing against the better judgment of the staff. LOL

So does someone want to explain to me what the problem is with standardized testing? or is it just a NY thing? Why do you consider opting out of a test?

Re: great article for those on the fence about "opting out"

Posted by Chatham-Chick

I wish our district and Superintendent was like Pat-Med/Hynes as well, but instead we received a "fear mongering" letter from our Superintendent. Unfortunately I feel like most of the parents in our district have no understanding about these tests, let alone the bigger picture and what's at stake.

Re: great article for those on the fence about "opting out"

great article for those on the fence about

So basically this is what is going on.

1. High stakes testing is being tied to teacher evaluations. Because of this, classrooms have become rooms of test prep factories and not real educating of the child because a lot is at stake. Gone are the days of projects, portfolio assessment, etc. Replaced with how to take a test. Very bad philosophy. Goes against all research on how to educate etc. I for one, don't want my children leaving school knowing how to be a good test taker. I want them to leave school being life long learners and thinkers. Grooming test takers, is not how to educate.

2. Purpose is because of $$. They want to dismantle the public schools in New York and replace with Charter schools. Bill Gates and like have found there is money in education, and our Children are being political pawns in their game.

3. Tests are purposely being made to fail our students so that schools will go into receivership, and charter schools set up.

4. Common Core standards are NOT developmentally appropriate. They go against all research of child development, especially in the younger grades. Again, purpose to make our child fail.

5. Tests are written 1-3 grade levels above the tested grades. These are NOT the standardized tests pre common core. Those tests were predictable, on grade level and helped drive instruction. These tests the teacher NEVER sees after the child takes it so in no way shape or form help the teachers to drive their instruction. The tests were developed by corporations with NO teacher input.

6. Saying that kids need practice is like saying that you should let an 8 year old start driving your car to practice for their road test in 10 years. That is how completely out of touch these tests and all they stand for are. Did you know that the average 8 year old will spend 270 minutes taking standardized tests? Now they made the time unlimited so in theory students will be taking tests for 6 school days. Did you know to enter med school the tests are not that long?



I urge anyone to visit NYSAPE.org, join Long Island Opt-Out on Facebook. There are also many public forms being held all over Long Island. Michael Hynes, Dr. Joe Rella- Top Superintendents are some of the fantastic speakers. There is a reason 240,000 students opted out of testing last year. There is lots of great information out there.

Re: great article for those on the fence about "opting out"

I'm not opposed to standardized testing. I'm opposed to developmentally inappropriate and the overuse and misuse of standardized testing with the ultimate goal being that of the privatization of public schools funded with public tax money.

My interest in these tests began when my oldest was in 3rd grade and bringing home practice ELA passages and questions along with with her standard homework. I felt the passages and essay questions were developmentally inappropriate for a 3rd grader. Even I struggled with what they were actually asking for her to write about. The questions often seemed a bit too abstract or in-depth for a 3rd grader to discuss. There were many nights where we'd be up until 10pm working on these essays.

I started wondering about the kids in poor performing districts in lower income areas. How the heck were they going to do these tests?? They often have little to no parental involvement. It just seemed like these exams were set up for most students to fail from the beginning.

I had concerns about how the essays were being graded being that some of the questions were ambiguous or were in my mind, open to interpretation. http://testingtalk.org/response/scoring-the-ela-exam/#comment-1211

Then to find out these tests were being scored on an ever moving scale made me wonder what these tests were even telling them/us!?
https://lacetothetop.wordpress.com/2015/03/17/nys-corrupt-common-core-test-scores/

And then once you a receive a score, if your child doesn't perform well, there's nothing telling you what your child may need some support in.

And just the fact that many of my DC's days are spent preparing for these specific tests is disturbing. It's all about Math and ELA with a little science and social studies mixed in here and there.

The other standardized tests/assessments do not get any kind of preparation like these.

And I haven't even addressed teacher evaluations based on these tests.



There's a lot of info out there discussing the privatization of public schools and these assessments and CC are a tool for just that.

http://www.salon.com/2014/02/19/4_ways_privatization_is_ruining_our_education_system_partner/


I'd go into more details, but I need to feed my clan.

Re: great article for those on the fence about "opting out"

My DD took the state tests last year. She was extremely anxious and did not perform well. Before the tests she was a strong 4..sometimes 3 student. Her results showed her as a 2. The teachers at the school said the math exam would have been difficult for 5th graders. The english questions were so abstract and confusing that I had difficulty figuring out what they were looking for. She was completely depleted at the end of the testing days.She knew she did not do well. When we got her results she was very upset as she had to get AIS this year while her friends who were also 3/4 students did not because their parents had the smarts to opt them out. I met with her ELA teacher in November during open house and she said that its a complete joke that 77% of her grade were getting AIS this year as a result of the exams.

My DD will not be taking the exams this year .

Re: great article for those on the fence about "opting out"

Re: great article for those on the fence about "opting out"

Just saw this post on FB:

Message edited 3/25/2016 1:39:36 PM.

Re: great article for those on the fence about "opting out"

Posted by Chatham-Chick

Just saw this post on FB:

Anonymous Post: I am a NYC teacher and I support the opt-out movement and will opt my own children out when the time comes. I proctored a practice ELA exam on Tuesday for the first time since it became untimed. One of my 3rd grade students with Special Needs sat with a 9 question test (6 multiple choice 3 short answer) for 4 hours and 50 minutes. From 9 am-1:50 pm she "worked productively" and continued to say she wasn't done. Lunch was brought to her in the testing room. It was child abuse, plain and simple. I am writing you for fear of retaliation in my workplace since this story pertains to my job and I imagine Ms. Fariña would not approve of me sharing it on social media. I don't know what else to say as there really isn't anything more to say other than repeat what I stated earlier. It's child abuse. The passages and questions were ridiculously inappropriate. Most adults would have had difficulty answering the questions.

Sad.

This is just one reason why I AM PROTESTING these assessments.


Don't even get me started on how these ELAs are scored! You can have no clue about what you're writing and get a 4, while those who put thought into their writing end up with a 1 or 2.


ETA: Also found out my 2nd grader is the taking practice ELAs at 45 minutes each day for 3 days.

Re: great article for those on the fence about "opting out"

When is this shit going to end? I wish everyone would opt out...that's the only way to end this bullshyt

Re: great article for those on the fence about "opting out"

I was going to opt my 3rd grader out of just math but I've decided to opt out of both. I see no reason for her to take these tests.

great article for those on the fence about

there is a group on Facebook, i suggest you join to be informed.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/Longislandoptout/?fref=ts

please educate yourselves and do what is best for our children

Re: great article for those on the fence about "opting out"

Posted by Lauren82

Posted by Chatham-Chick

Just saw this post on FB:

Anonymous Post: I am a NYC teacher and I support the opt-out movement and will opt my own children out when the time comes. I proctored a practice ELA exam on Tuesday for the first time since it became untimed. One of my 3rd grade students with Special Needs sat with a 9 question test (6 multiple choice 3 short answer) for 4 hours and 50 minutes. From 9 am-1:50 pm she "worked productively" and continued to say she wasn't done. Lunch was brought to her in the testing room. It was child abuse, plain and simple. I am writing you for fear of retaliation in my workplace since this story pertains to my job and I imagine Ms. Fariña would not approve of me sharing it on social media. I don't know what else to say as there really isn't anything more to say other than repeat what I stated earlier. It's child abuse. The passages and questions were ridiculously inappropriate. Most adults would have had difficulty answering the questions.

Sad.

This is just one reason why I AM PROTESTING these assessments.


Don't even get me started on how these ELAs are scored! You can have no clue about what you're writing and get a 4, while those who put thought into their writing end up with a 1 or 2.


ETA: Also found out my 2nd grader is the taking practice ELAs at 45 minutes each day for 3 days.

This breaks my heart. I'm a special education teacher and I can only hope that my students won't have to go through this in a few years. A student can be mandated to have curriculum modified but will be subjected to an exam which is grade levels beyond their actual grade level, even though they are receiving modified curriculum all day long.

Message edited 3/27/2016 8:05:58 PM.

Re: great article for those on the fence about "opting out"

Posted by BargainMama

Posted by Lauren82

Posted by Chatham-Chick

Just saw this post on FB:

Anonymous Post: I am a NYC teacher and I support the opt-out movement and will opt my own children out when the time comes. I proctored a practice ELA exam on Tuesday for the first time since it became untimed. One of my 3rd grade students with Special Needs sat with a 9 question test (6 multiple choice 3 short answer) for 4 hours and 50 minutes. From 9 am-1:50 pm she "worked productively" and continued to say she wasn't done. Lunch was brought to her in the testing room. It was child abuse, plain and simple. I am writing you for fear of retaliation in my workplace since this story pertains to my job and I imagine Ms. Fariña would not approve of me sharing it on social media. I don't know what else to say as there really isn't anything more to say other than repeat what I stated earlier. It's child abuse. The passages and questions were ridiculously inappropriate. Most adults would have had difficulty answering the questions.

Sad.

This is just one reason why I AM PROTESTING these assessments.


Don't even get me started on how these ELAs are scored! You can have no clue about what you're writing and get a 4, while those who put thought into their writing end up with a 1 or 2.


ETA: Also found out my 2nd grader is the taking practice ELAs at 45 minutes each day for 3 days.

This breaks my heart. I'm a special education teacher and I can only hope that my students won't have to go through this in a few years. A student can be mandated to have curriculum modified but will be subjected to an exam which is grade levels beyond their actual grade level, even though they are receiving modified curriculum all day long.

In high school the special ed kids have to take and pass the Regents to even get a diploma. Same exact tests gen ed kids take. My son's classmates who get double time sat for SIX hours on the ELA Regents. Disgusts me. It extends so far beyond the 3-8 tests for our kids with special needs.