tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post5528181815879225338..comments2024-03-28T02:21:17.452-07:00Comments on Seattle Schools Community Forum: SBAC Testing Starting in Seattle Public SchoolsMelissa Westbrookhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-36400150977017715772016-03-22T16:56:49.780-07:002016-03-22T16:56:49.780-07:00Here's a link to the district's 2015 SBAC ...Here's a link to the district's 2015 SBAC scores for the 11th grade. You can see that the state is already reporting refusals separately:<br /><br />http://reportcard.ospi.k12.wa.us/TemplateDetail.aspx?domain=SBAC&schoolId=100&reportLevel=District&year=2014-15&gradeLevelId=11&groupLevel=District&waslCategory=1&chartType=1Lynnnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-55163080097135746772016-03-22T09:54:18.022-07:002016-03-22T09:54:18.022-07:00I want to concur here. There has NEVER been a sin...I want to concur here. There has NEVER been a single case of the Dept of Ed pulling Title One money over opt-outs. A lot of saber-rattling but nothing. <br /><br />I need to find the article but it was an analysis of what A. Smauelsen is saying - score the scores you have. Is it a clear portrayal of academic achievement in the school no, but if you are only using one test score for that, you have bigger problems. <br /><br />Melissa Westbrookhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17179994245880629080noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-54492728321387246492016-03-22T09:22:56.585-07:002016-03-22T09:22:56.585-07:00We'd be curious, too.
At this point no Titl...We'd be curious, too. <br /><br />At this point no Title 1 funding has been impacted in any way due to choosing to opt out of high stakes standardized tests, anywhere in the country. And this includes NY state, where there were over 220,000 students whose parents stepped up and said "enough!" to the invalid, corporate-driven, high stakes exams that children are being asked to sit for starting at the age of 7. Parents are also waking up to the data collection machine that high stakes testing heralds as well, rightfully concerned about privacy issues and FERPA laws being pushed to the limits.<br /><br />We have a solution for all of those who are concerned about the potential "zero scores": DON'T INCLUDE THOSE SCORES. It is so simple--if a parent opts their student out (or if the student her/himself refuses), assign it to a category for EXACTLY WHAT IT IS--an OPT OUT! Then the numbers of those who are refusing to feed the machine will be recognized, no 'zeros' will be inaccurately reported, and the fear-based technique we are seeing employed here will be exposed. <br /><br />If you step back you can see how the tactic of the "zero" is manipulative and flat-out unfair. Parents panic at the mention of a "zero," we've been trained by the test-and-punish system to assume that score is one of loss. I've been opting my child out for years in Seattle and on his Source record it says "refused." There is no 'zero.' It is smoke. Blow through it.<br /><br />Test scores in Seattle can be tied to Levy funds, which is another problem, separate from Title 1 funds. You can ask the principal at your building if your school receives Levy funding. It has been tied to MAP scores in the past, and it is a mess to do this. Even people at the City level who are involved in the distribution of funds are quietly realizing what a mistake this has been, to look to test scores to determine funding. Think about it: you have a high need school with a substantial free and reduced lunch population, a solid number of English Language Learners (tests are such a disservice to those children), kids who are working with IEPs and more, and you look to test scores to determine financial support. Those kids are already challenged by life obstacles--and a computer adaptive test score will determine if they have school counselors? full time librarians? p.e. teachers? family support workers? instructional assistants? really?!! The funding for those critical wrap-around services for our most fragile student populations is impacted due to MAP scores? <br /><br />So we at Seattle Opt Out encourage you to question, learn, expose and share. And, of course, opt out!<br /><br />ASamuelsen<br />Seattle Opt OutAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-5732184917398425552016-03-22T01:47:28.936-07:002016-03-22T01:47:28.936-07:00The city ties the Families and Education Levy mone...The city ties the Families and Education Levy money to school performance, so testing and attendance affect those funds. (The city should rethink how they dispense money from grants that have been awarded...)<br />LizaSfT Liza Rankinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01074319353580223165noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28765366.post-51700363275686529332016-03-21T14:32:47.250-07:002016-03-21T14:32:47.250-07:00So, I'm curious how opting out my (high-scorin...So, I'm curious how opting out my (high-scoring) kids affects funding for our Title 1 school. Wouldn't enough zero scores from opting out make it appear like the school wasn't "improving"? How are test scores tied to funds that schools receive?<br /><br />Testing curiousAnonymousnoreply@blogger.com