Seattle Opt Out Meets This Week
From the Seattle Opt Out Group:
Seattle Opt Out Group's next meeting, with two dynamic speakers, Jesse Hagopian and Fred Hamel. We will discuss high stakes testing, what is happening in Seattle, how to refuse the tests (and why), and much more. Everyone is welcome!
March 12 (Thursday)
Southwest Library
6pm-7:45pm
event info (and more) our Facebook page
Seattle Opt Out Group's next meeting, with two dynamic speakers, Jesse Hagopian and Fred Hamel. We will discuss high stakes testing, what is happening in Seattle, how to refuse the tests (and why), and much more. Everyone is welcome!
March 12 (Thursday)
Southwest Library
6pm-7:45pm
event info (and more) our Facebook page
Comments
New
-boo
New
If a school has more than 5% of students overall and/or in any subgroup of students, the school will not make Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) and will be open to any consequences/sanctions specific to the number of consecutive years it did not make AYP. Now, as boo mentioned, if this school wasn't going to make AYP anyway, the fact that more than 5% of students opted out has no effect on the school.
However, the school does not receive a "0" designation if 95% of students don't test. That school simply doesn't make AYP and has to deal with the consequences. The school still has to report the % of students who met standard (or made proficiency) in each grade, content area, and student subgroup. Those opt-out 0's count against that percentage.
But again, this is a difference without distinction if that school wasn't going to make AYP even if all students tested.
--- swk
P.S. Melissa is correct that the schools code the students who didn't test due to absence, refusal, etc. This would not be reported on the school report code, though. However, a school would be able to report separately the percentage of students absent, refused, etc.
--- swk
How would it work? First, we'd lay off the daytime testing during school hours. This would already be a huge bonus in every public schools. Like all other good tests, let's test on a Saturday. If students want a test, or want to opt in to any certain test, by all means let the public schools give them that choice. Students should be able to pick the ISEE, SSAT, OR... drumroll, the SBAC. And, the schools would pay the testing fees... of any testing that a family wanted, including ISEE or SSAT.
The testing organizations themselves should sell the idea of these tests to families - who get to CHOOSE. And, the testing organizations themselves should arrange for the venue of the testing. That's what the ISEE and SSAT do today. Nobody wants your test? Well, then no school will be willing to be open on a Saturday to administer.
How will it be scored? Like all other competitors. Your score on the SBAC will be your rank on the day you took the test. That's how the ISEE and SSAT work today. You are competitively scored against everybody who takes the test when you do. Completely fair.
OptIn NotOut
Huh. Haven't read this elsewhere other than this conservative news aggregation site, and the verdict will be appealed. But, my, what an interesting wrinkle.
EdVoter
What the heck?????!!#$%!!
When will we ever find time to give the Amplify.... not to mention, the Amplify spring checkpoint???? How will we survived?
Seems funny? Its no joke. A fact. 2 Months. Gone. For SBAC.
Empl
questions
Well, at the secondary level students are sprinkled in different classes. Basically, they all have to sit around and wait for everyone. Sure, some class work goes on, as students finish, so long as computers and libraries aren't needed. Imagine, trying to teach anything, when a different third of your class is missing every day to test, or finish testing. Imagine a kid being absent, and then squeezing them in to the test rotation. That kid will now miss other classes, to take the SBAC that was missed.
That's how it goes.
Empl
--othertests