Seattle Schools: Getting a Little Worried about Opt-Outs?
The district sent out this robocall today about SBAC assessments. They pack a lot into a short bit.
(Yes, they probably used the word "assessments" probably because "testing" has a bad ring to it.)
They also say "the state requires assessments..." when REALLY what they should say is that "the state requires the DISTRICT to give assessments"- not that all students have to take them.
But maybe that's more information than the district wants parents to know.
(Yes, they probably used the word "assessments" probably because "testing" has a bad ring to it.)
They also say "the state requires assessments..." when REALLY what they should say is that "the state requires the DISTRICT to give assessments"- not that all students have to take them.
But maybe that's more information than the district wants parents to know.
Comments
open ears
YOU CAN EVEN OPT OUT VERBALLY. YES, VERBALLY. IT IS IN THE OSPI PROTOCOL FOR REFUSING STATE TESTS.
Questions? Come to the Southwest Library on March 12 at 6pm to have them answered! We will have SPS teachers, opt out forms and a professor of education on hand to help you. If we can't assist you, we will figure out who can.
There are more of us than them. Our votes and our voices matter--use both!
--In Solidarity
-Teacher in favor of rigor
Also, no multiple word names so next time your comment will be deleted. This is explained in our policy about comments.
The advocacy is for all parents to opt out their children. And then to get this city off the test prep train and then to get the state to get rid of the SBAC.
BTW, there are more teachers who agree with me than agree with you.
"Bam!"
Cheers,
Teacher
Cheers,
Teacher
I wrote to the school board to say I supported the motion to discuss a moratorium on the SBAC and got a reply that it was state required. I looked to the State website for OSPI and see this range of reasons for testing:
http://www.k12.wa.us/assessment/
So which is it? State? Feds? Both?
open ears
The momentum against these tests is rising exponentiality. The movement includes teachers, parents and even administrators. Google it. This blog is also full of links, including the one I referenced on another thread from a highly regarded principal. Asking a reader to show you the statistics misses this larger point.
Rigor results from having the the time, teaching skills and resources to educate students. This test takes valuable resources from the classroom, uses up precious learning time and makes teachers focus too much on the test.
It also makes me wonder if you are recently joining this blog conversation because you feel the momentum in the district shifting, and your "side" is getting nervous.
That might include Teachers United (Gates' financed pseudo-union run by an inactive teacher) or not. Just speculating.
BTW, I'm also a teacher (though not a "Teacher").
--enough already
"Bam!"
Moose
-confused
Teacher
Equating the opt-out position as an avoidance of rigor, doing a Perry Mason on a reader about statistics rather than acknowledging the larger point, and, yes, using a capital T for teacher all prompted a needed rebuttal from another teacher.
You don't represent all teachers and neither do I. Your postings seemed to be indicating otherwise.
--enough already
It wouldn't surprise me if SPS hasn't even thought of this - they'll just make something up after the fact - like they did a couple of years ago when they announced they would use MSP and MAP scores for placement AFTER everyone has done the tests (many kids don't put much effort in MAP but would if they think it would count for something). So opt out or not? Risk not having scores for math placement or risk having SBAC scores that are too poor for appropriate math place but don't reflect kids actual ability anyway because of the stupid test design?
on the fence
Learning in today's complex survival mode is tough and we need many resources and remedies to address it. Additional testing isn't one of them.
Doit
Parents had best be thinking about how to gain leverage on this issue or just hang back and be bystanders as your children get burned out on stressful, unhelpful testing.