What's the Math Summative Assessment?
I had no idea yet another test was happening in SPS but apparently it is true. It's a two-day test called the Math Summative Assessment.
The window for testing started May 12th and is to finish May 23rd.
From SPS (partial to first and second grade teachers):
Seattle Public Schools will administer a summative mathematics assessment this spring to all first and second graders. The purpose of this assessment is to measure the annual progress of primary grade students toward (sic) meeting Common Core State Standards.
These new summative assessments were developed by a team of SPS teachers and members of the mathematics department with support from an independent testing consultants. The components of the assessment were field tested in the spring of 2013 and winter of 2014.
Were you notified? Because the parent who told me said her child's teacher mentioned it in a weekly update otherwise she would not have known.
I kind of doubt parents were told because, well, they then might opt out. This way, the child takes the test, the district gets the data and hey, it's just one more test, that's all.
But honestly, it's not clear WHO gets this data. Is the testing consultant getting it (and how much did that consultant cost the district)? How will it get presented to the 2nd and 3rd grade teachers (as the letter also states)?
Was your child part of the field testing?
Ask your child or your child's teacher if you have a first or second grader. Ask about why the test is two days. If you weren't notified, ask why not. Whether it works or not, I would send a letter, for each of my children, to have on file that states I want to be notified of any testing, individual or class, that my child is to be a part of for the district/school.
The window for testing started May 12th and is to finish May 23rd.
From SPS (partial to first and second grade teachers):
Seattle Public Schools will administer a summative mathematics assessment this spring to all first and second graders. The purpose of this assessment is to measure the annual progress of primary grade students toward (sic) meeting Common Core State Standards.
These new summative assessments were developed by a team of SPS teachers and members of the mathematics department with support from an independent testing consultants. The components of the assessment were field tested in the spring of 2013 and winter of 2014.
Were you notified? Because the parent who told me said her child's teacher mentioned it in a weekly update otherwise she would not have known.
I kind of doubt parents were told because, well, they then might opt out. This way, the child takes the test, the district gets the data and hey, it's just one more test, that's all.
But honestly, it's not clear WHO gets this data. Is the testing consultant getting it (and how much did that consultant cost the district)? How will it get presented to the 2nd and 3rd grade teachers (as the letter also states)?
Was your child part of the field testing?
Ask your child or your child's teacher if you have a first or second grader. Ask about why the test is two days. If you weren't notified, ask why not. Whether it works or not, I would send a letter, for each of my children, to have on file that states I want to be notified of any testing, individual or class, that my child is to be a part of for the district/school.
Comments
-Teacher
kp
Testy
Curious....
NE Mom of 3
NEP
-Opter outer
testy
The district has to be transparent about its efforts around academics. Why no announcement either for the field testing or the district-wide testing?
Were teachers/principals to tell parents? I have a feeling the answer is no but some teachers, doing due diligence, told their students' parents.
DistrictWatcher
Will the results also be used for math groupings or AL services? That's what I'd be interested in knowing as a parent. Since they seem headed in the direction of no APP until 3rd grade, it does make one wonder if the results will support in school groupings, and whether they will eliminate MAP for that age group.
curious
This is one of the many reasons I read this blog. Melissa, when you are down or overwhelmed - you do have thousands of small improvements in actual children's lives that you can put in your plus column.
Signed: thank you
Hertzog K-2 thoughts
curious
To not tell parents, especially parents with children with special needs, about this is not good. These are 6 and 7 year old children who may struggle with any kind of assessment.
given the district's complete baloney with the recent k-5 math adoption & trying to stack the deck for their reformie dreck, of course there are more tests!
and, of course there will be zero real attempts to figure out the skills kids are struggling with and exactly what to do with about those skills, because we're all going to go to college and be high level thinkers who don't need boring old skills.
and, with the knapp-ster helping guide crappy contracts, teachers will take all the blame!
does it ever
getbetter?
Of course, Mr. Banda if free to disregard what recs do come forward.
-waiting for recs
It is not uncommon to see school tests in addition to MAP and MSP.
She is taking it in her regular class, not her math class (they do walk to math).
I still wish they would have communicated to us about it and what exactly it means/how they are using it.
NE Mom of 3
-Frustrated
They've been reviewing first and second grade math ad nauseum, even though it's a mixed ability class and many of the students have long since mastered the material and demonstrated that every which way from Sunday. The kids themselves were told that all the review is for this test. They've also spent time the last two days practicing scantron sheets.
Disappointed
I haven't heard back from the school on what "opting out" means in practice. Should I send him with reading material tomorrow?
-taking a stand
Dear Parents and Guardians,
SPS has added a required math assessment this year for first and second graders that is aligned to our Common Core standards. This is something new. It is a short paper and pencil test that will be completed during class next week in two 20 minute sessions. The test is similar to assignments the children have done in class.
The purpose of this assessment is to give teachers information about what their students have learned this year, and give the District information about how Common Core is being implemented. The data may also be good baseline information before we begin to work with the new math curriculum which is being adopted district-wide for next year.
As the results are calculated by the District, we are not certain when they will be available. We will let you know when we have more information.
If you have any questions please feel free to contact me.
Melissa Gray
Assistant Principal
Whittier Elementary
-Frustrated at Whittier
"I haven't heard back from the school on what "opting out" means in practice. Should I send him with reading material tomorrow?"
That is up to you. If you asked valid questions that are time-sensitive and you did not get answers back, then any issues that arise after testing should be the district/school's problem.
Whittier, thank you for that. Pretty vague. And, if the assessment is like assignments in class, why the need for the assessment?
The school also has not adequately explained why they did not notify parents.
-taking a stand