tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post8556917939946350445..comments2024-03-28T23:38:22.511-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: Testing - What Will You Do?Melissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-69604202127022012122015-03-23T16:06:04.667-07:002015-03-23T16:06:04.667-07:00State Representative Gerry Pollet was at a Nathan ...State Representative Gerry Pollet was at a Nathan Hale event this past Saturday. Pollet is NOT impressed by the manner in which Seattle Public Schools Superintendent Larry Nyland is handling the concerns of Nathan Hale teachers. Here is what Pollet had to say:<br /><br /><br />"Parents need to know that they have an absolute right to opt out of having their children take the SBAC test this year. The Seattle district's letter was misleading and threatening, referring to parents who "refuse" to have their children take the tests. Worse, is the District's threats to our teachers who are exercising their professional judgment in questioning why they should have their students act as guinea pigs for this test with no academic benefits. I meant what I said at the Town Hall yesterday, I will do whatever I can to support the educators and parents at Hale. At the state level, I'm working with WEA in response to the outrageous effort by the (not elected) State Board of Education to move to have one high hurdle for the 11th grade test as a graduation exam - which they would set at the level at which 65% of students fail."<br /><br />I am glad that Pollet has the courage to stand with teachers. Where is the board on this issue?Opting Outnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-68506257785043961502015-03-22T22:15:45.164-07:002015-03-22T22:15:45.164-07:00The town hall at Nathan Hale on 3/21 with state re...The town hall at Nathan Hale on 3/21 with state representatives was very inspiring. About 1000 people (lots of educators) were there. <br /><br />- pumped upAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-89514258604013864502015-03-22T12:08:56.439-07:002015-03-22T12:08:56.439-07:00Well considering that 10th graders are mandated to...Well considering that 10th graders are mandated to take the test to meet state graduation requirement, I guess we will be taking the test. <br /><br />Concerned 10th grade parent<br /><br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-64800145608116948062015-03-22T11:37:49.849-07:002015-03-22T11:37:49.849-07:00Watching, I,too, am puzzled that neither senior st...Watching, I,too, am puzzled that neither senior staff nor the Board as a whole ever thought that a real discussion of Common Core and its assessment was ever needed. You cannot make sweeping changes in how/what kids are taught and what they are tested on and expect parents to be sheep.<br /><br />NE Mom, in a word, ask. Here's a suggestion - if your library will not be used for testing - ask if your student can do homework/read/or even help the librarian reshelve books. My sons did this in elementary school and it was a good experience. I also packed my own "worksheets" in case they did not have any homework/project to work on.<br /><br />I suspect your principal has said nothing because he/she doesn't want more parents to know about his legal option.<br /><br />I have heard that in some states they force the kids to just sit there with nothing to do. That's ridiculous and does nothing but punish the kid. Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-65002967161495502842015-03-22T10:17:35.374-07:002015-03-22T10:17:35.374-07:00We've decided to opt out/refuse the SBAC for o...We've decided to opt out/refuse the SBAC for our 5th grader, based mainly upon how poorly-written and confusing the test appears to be, and the cumbersome computer interface...coupled with the fact that he has not been taught to the common core standards for his entire K-5 career. <br /><br />For us, it is not so much what WE will do - we are concerned with what OUR SON will do, during the 4 mornings that his classmates will be taking the SBAC.<br /><br />Kids at our school will be taking the test in their classrooms, on laptops, since we do not have a computer lab. Our principal has told us that kids who are not taking the test cannot be in their classroom during the testing periods. Kids who have been opted out will be placed in other classrooms during the testing period. These may be a classroom that is the same grade level, or another grade level. I have no idea if he will be allowed to use this time for independent reading or study, or if he will be taking part in the other classroom's lessons.<br /><br />Lots of unknowns at this point.<br /><br />- North-end MomAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-70387709719126332412015-03-22T09:59:48.695-07:002015-03-22T09:59:48.695-07:00I agree, Melissa. I came across a document betwee...I agree, Melissa. I came across a document between Inslee and SBAC Consortium regarding funding for this project and the dollars were absolutely staggering. <br /><br />I've noticed that the Senate seems to following a path that resembles California. Mainly..by wanting a framework that includes multiple measures to evaluate teachers and one of those measures is test scores.<br /><br /><br />"decision to suspend California's school accountability system is also part of a larger effort to develop a new framework using multiple measures to evaluate school performance, rather than a single number tied to a test."<br /><br /><br /><br /><br />http://www.seattlepi.com/news/us/article/California-board-moves-to-accommodate-new-Common-6128798.php<br /><br /><br />I keep asking: Where is our leadership?<br /><br />I'm grateful that Director Peters and Director Patu have forced this issue into public light. I"m afraid the district spent too much time sitting on their hands. They remained silent as ELL and other students were about to fall off of a cliff.<br /><br />Watchingnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-70160117954799915502015-03-22T09:50:41.074-07:002015-03-22T09:50:41.074-07:00Watching, this is what I don't get from the se...Watching, this is what I don't get from the senators that voted for the bill - they think that Dorn(?) or whoever will let them know after three years if the SBAC is "reliable." <br /><br />There are way too many people invested in this effort for that to happen. <br /><br />It should happen now because I don't believe - no matter the results - that it would be suspended. Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-34265439190237790342015-03-21T21:45:30.008-07:002015-03-21T21:45:30.008-07:00"Until students' education has been guide..."Until students' education has been guided by the new standards and schools have practiced administering and interpreting SBAC, the results will not support reliable and valid inferences about student performance and should not be used as the basis for any consequential purpose. Unless empirical studies confirm a sound relationship between performance on the SBAC and critical and valued life outcomes ("college and career-ready"), test results should not be used to make consequential judgments about schools and students. "<br /><br />Prudent, SPS should be asking Washington State Board of Education and Randy Dorn to suspend use of SBAC.<br /><br />We should expect Nyland and the board to be leading this effort.Watchingnoreply@blogger.com