State Testing

It’s been awhile since I’ve posted, and now that it’s school vacation week, I’m getting a chance to sit down and write. Now that second semester has started, and schedules are in place, the next big task on my plate is state testing schedules and special education accommodations. There are still educators who feel that a boycott of the state tests is called for. What purpose would that have? Every issue in schools should boil down to one question, “What’s in the best interest of the students?” Now, there are ways to make changes and influence people, but boycotting the test is not one of those ways. Not that I don’t think the tests are flawed, because they are, however, there are benefits that the school can receive from state tests, if it so chooses (like instant data for analysis and program development).

Moving onto the special education piece of the puzzle always makes me wonder exactly how much the students actually benefit from all of the services that we are required to give versus how much the services unlevel the playing field. There are some obvious services (like scribing a test for a student with physical disabilities, or a smaller setting for a student who has a more serious ADD diagnosis), but others seem unnecessary, and at times would alter the results of a test. Check this document posted by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to find all the accommodations available.