Seattle Schools Community Forum

Below is good advice on ANY SPS page that you believe relates to your child's academic career or is important information.  Po3 said... If you have a student who has previously met a state requirement via the HSPE or EOC. I recommend taking a screenshot of their assessment page just in case there is a bait and switch this fall and they try to tell us our students have not met the requirement(s) and remove the assessment from the Source.

I asked SPS for a comment on what the policies are for parents who want to opt their students out of standardized testing.  (Although MAP is not mentioned, these answers probably apply.)  Here is the reply (and I'm happy to see this district not being punitive): Currently for the MSP, we do not have “opt out” but rather parent or student refusal. (The language from the Washington State Assessment Coordinators Manual is at the bottom of this email.) For parents who refuse to have their child tested – they may choose to keep them home in the morning of the test dates or if they come to school, they will be supervised but not have individualized instruction. Supervision could be helping in the library or assistance in K-2 since they do not test MSP. The parent refusal must be initiated by the parent and not a teacher suggestion. We do not have the “sit and stare” policy. Because it is parent initiated, they know their child will not be testing. They will not go to the o...

I'll have to ask SPS just what happens if a student opts out of a school-wide test.  But here is what is happening in other parts of the country (and it's just wrong). From the Washington Post's The Answer Sheet , the policy of "sit and stare."  Districts and schools are allowing students to opt out but only if they sit still for the entire duration of the test.  No reading, no homework, no headphones.  I'm surprised they don't make them just sit in a corner and face the wall. “Sit and stare” policies are being considered or adopted in schools from New York to California as a reaction to the growing “opt out” movement in which parents have decided that they do not want their children to have to take high-stakes standardized tests. Each state has its own policy about opting out, but they don’t generally provide districts with guidance about how to enforce it, so administrators come up with their own policies. As the number of parents opting out...

In a very moving and determined move, this Massachusetts parent tells his district what he thinks about ALL high stakes testing. This comes via The Answer Sheet at the Washington Post. Rosa is an assistant professor at the University of Massachusetts at Dartmouth who specializes in curriculum and instruction, language policies, Literacy and social studies education. In his letter, he refers to the 2013  Massachusetts Statement Against High-Stakes Testing , which was signed by  more than 130 Massachusetts professors and researchers  from some 20 schools —  including Harvard, Tufts, Boston and Brandeis universities —urging state officials to stop overusing high-stakes standardized tests to assess students, teachers and schools. Boy, I'd guess he'd be one of the ultimate parent experts given his profession.   And 130 academics all agreeing on something?  Not bad. What did he have to say?  (Emphasis mine). Last academic year, duri...

One fascinating thing I learned at the Network for Public Education conference in Austin was that Washington State is one of the luckier states in terms of ed reform.  Being behind (or slow to go) the ed reform curve has many benefits. For example, did you know that there is large (and growing) opt-out of testing movement nationwide?  Indeed there is and I met many parents at the conference who said they were. I have said that when my sons were in school that if was not a year they were required to take the WASL, we opted them out.  They are both (nearly) college graduates.   Here's the Facebook page for I Refuse!, a national opt-out movement.   Here's the movement in NY state with their resources.  Here's a round-up of stories from Ed Week on the subject. From the New Yorker, a very good article on testing.  Last spring’s state tests were an entirely different experience, for children and for teachers. Teachers invigilating the e...

There have been a number of articles coming across my desk about opting out of standardized testing . One group, that I believe I have mentioned before, is United Opt Out .  Their mission statement: We opt out of high stakes testing and resist all market-based reforms seeking to privatize and destroy public education. They have some great stories and resources at their website.  The resources include: template letter to opt-out, talking points, a Get Tough guide for statements from school officials that you are likely to run into should you want to opt your child out of testing, a parent flyer and much more. The next story comes from NYC where students at the highly regarded Stuyvesant High School have boycotted tests to protest using them to evaluate their teachers.   From Gotham Schools: “ This movement is meant to support Stuyvesant teachers in opposing an unfair teacher evaluation system,” Senior David Cahn wrote on the  Facebook page  he created...

Also next week on Tuesday, October 29th  at Kane Hall on the UW campus at 7:00 pm- 9 pm Accountability at a Crossroads: Using Student Test Scores to Evaluate Teacher Effectiveness A panel of leading educators at the forefront of testing and teacher evaluation will share their differing perspectives on the questions: Is this a sound/effective policy?  What is to be achieved, if anything, in holding teachers accountable for their students’ test scores?  What tests should be used?  What’s ultimately at risk for the students, the teachers, the community? PANELISTS DR. JOE WILLHOFT – Executive Director, Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium* JUSTIN FOX-BAILEY – Teacher, Snohomish School District; Member, WEA Executive Committee CHRIS KORSMO – Executive Director, League of Education Voters MICHAELA MILLER – Director, State Policy and Outreach, National Board for Professional Teaching Standards Moderator - Brian Jeffries, State Assessment Program Directo...

 Update on this story with numbers from Rainier Beach High School: RB had the highest increase in reading scores for high schools in the district (17%). 22% increase in Science and 8-10% increase in Math  End of update From SPS Communications (bold mine): Seattle Public School students again made significant academic gains during the 2012-2013 school year, Superintendent José Banda announced today. The preliminary scores released by the Washington Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) show Seattle students outperforming the state average in multiple subjects. [1] In 2013, Seattle students met or exceeded standard on the state exams at a higher rate than the previous year (2012) in 19 of 21 exams taken. Seattle also exceeded the 2013 statewide average in 19 of 21 exams, remaining slightly behind in only 10th grade reading and writing. The district widened its lead over statewide averages in 18 exams reflecting a trend in recen...

State Superintendent Randy Dorn released preliminary statewide results from the High School Proficiency Exam in reading, writing and science at a press conference today. See this press release and this AP story .

I attended the forum on standardized testing on Monday night at Thornton Creek Elementary.  There were about 40 people there including parents and teachers.  I sure wish more people had attended as it was a great discussion.  I wish someone from the district could have been there to see that this is how you have a public discussion.  Kudos and thanks to Chris Stewart for putting this on (and her speakers as well).

Monday Parent Perspectives on Standardized Testing forum , Thornton Creek Elementary from 6-8 p.m. McDonald meeting for families who don't want foreign language immersion from 6:30 - 7:30 p.m. at Lincoln library.   (Note; this is not a district-wide meeting and is only about McDonald but it might be interesting to hear what is said.)     Wednesday Board Work Session on Capacity Management from 4:00-5:30 p.m. School Board meeting from 6-9 p.m.   Call first thing Monday morning if you want to speak (252-0040) or boardagenda@seattleschools.org.  (I note that President Sundquist did say at the last Board meeting that you should be speaking on the topic you signed up for your slot.  I always try to do so but then I include other items.  The speakers list has not been full lately so I don't see this as a major issue.)

Parent Chris Stewart has organized an evening for parents to discuss standardized testing.  With the changes in the state test and the newness of MAP testing, it is a good time to talk about the issues.   Issues to explain: parent education goals of testing benefits of testing costs of testing parental rights national perspective Issues for feedback: are these the best way to meet the district's academic goals? what you might like to see in SPS ideas on testing frequency for different age groups She will have different speakers on the issues speaking about 10 minutes each and then an hour for discussion with the entire group (no breakout groups).  (Note; there is not going to be discussion of testing for the Advanced Learning program.) The meeting is Monday, April 4th at Thornton Creek Elementary, from 6-8 p.m.  

A group is organizing a forum on parent perspectives about standardized testing .  They are looking for a couple of people (teachers and parents) who support standardized testing in SPS, namely MAP and HSPE.  They are looking for authentic dialog on this important issue.  What benefits have you seen for your child?  How has it guided your thinking as a parent in how your child is doing in school?  Happy about the feedback from your child's teacher? If you might be interested in being part of a panel that is supportive of the testing currently offered (thanks but they have plenty of the other side of the coin), please contact Chris Stewart, (stewcc@hotmail.com). Also, if you have opted your child out of testing, that would be an interesting experience to share as well.  (I did opt my sons out of most of the WASL but that is years back now.)

A very funny video from a blog called What It's Like on the Inside (from a Washington State teacher and no I don't know who it is). The video is a little long but really it has to be: it's trying to explain state testing. Thanks to Dorothy for the link.

I just skimmed this article but apparently all Washington parents will get a letter from their school (district?) about the rules and schedule for state testing. Look for that in the mail. From the Seattle Times article : State rules for who has to take the High School Proficiency Exam — and its predecessor, the Washington Assessment of Student Learning, or WASL — have been confusing parents and students for years. Four bills before the Legislature may simplify things in the near future. Some proposals take aim at the most confusing part of high-school testing — the rules that cover which high-school math exam or exams a student is expected to take this spring. The confusion stems from the state's transition from a general high-school math test in 10th grade to end-of-course exams for algebra and geometry. As the rules stand now, some students who took algebra or geometry a few years ago may be expected to take end-of-course exams in those subjects this year. Of cours...

Right now, students have a variety of targets they are expected to meet by the time they leave high school. It is important to know the target for a couple of reasons. One, we should be clear about our expectations for students. Two, everyone claims that they start with the end goal and work back from there (if this is what the students are supposed to be doing in the 12th grade, then we need them to be doing this in the 11th grade, and this in the 10th grade, etc.) The kids are certainly expected to be able to pass the High School Proficiency Exams (HSPEs - formerly known as the WASL) in reading and writing. They will soon be expected to pass the math and science ones as well. These tests, however, are keyed to the 10th grade Standards - the highest Standards the state has written. Since there is no test beyond grade 10 the state has not written any state Standards beyond grade 10. Here in Seattle, however, the state Standards aren't good enough. Our students are suppose...

Here's a link to the SPS School Beat. Seattle Public Schools’ elementary and K-8 schools will be closed from Monday, November 23 through Wednesday, November 25 for Parent-Teacher Conferences. This is the first year that all elementary and K-8 schools will be closed Districtwide for parent-teacher conferences. The new schedule will be less disruptive to student learning while also providing greater consistency and predictability for families. Interesting. I remember how difficult it was with a shortened day but I had no idea that during the entire Thanksgiving week, the elementaries and K-8s will be closed. How do parents feel? Do the parents of middle school kids in K-8s get conferences? Is so, that seems unfair that if you go to a K-8, you get a conference and if you go to middle school you don't. The High School Proficiency Exam (HSPE, formerly the WASL) for Science will be given this year for high school students on one day for 125 minutes. (This from the s...