Things that I wanted to mention

1. Things that I wanted to mention Brooke Ahrens EDTE 162 Summer 2008

2. General Information • Information on every child tested is provided to military recruiters. • Title 1 is a part of NCLB- provides additional $$ for student in low socio-economic schools • Schools use interesting tactics to cover their tracks (drops outs aren’t counted) • What are we really measuring?

3. Initial Support for NCLB • Lots of different political and educational groups supported NCLB initially • Qualified teachers • Student achievement • Help for students/schools that were behind. • Not quite what was expected

4. Some of the issues… • Not everyone is good at everything- The bell curve?? • Personally, I don’t think this is a horrible thing • We have created a situation in which it is shameful for students not to go to college • We have eliminated programs in arts, shop, music, etc…

5. More issues • ELs are no longer ELs if they score beyond the 36% percentile • NCBL wants ALL students scoring above the 60% in order to be successful. • If you are an EL how can you do this? • Socio-economics are considered, but not addressed- no funding unless Title 1

6. What else is NCLB doing? • 1 test measures 1 year of education • 5 questions on vocabulary. What are the odds that I would teach those words? Or that students would encounter them? • Who knows the students’ abilities better? The teacher after 150 days? Or a 1 day test?

7. What is happening? • Schools (all of ES Union) have implemented blocks of English and Math and nothing else • SJUSD went to scripted curriculum • I taught 2 periods of LA to move kids off the bubble- Missing Social Studies or Science for an entire year… • My principal felt the weight….

8. California in the mix • 5 levels of testing • We have stated that students need to test at B or above • Other states used C or above • We have some of the highest standards with the lowest funding • Among the largest class sizes in the nation

9. How to fix it? • Increase funding for ELs • Increase funding for schools not making the grades- hire more experienced teachers, provide more training and assistance • Not what is happening- instead we punish • We are playing catch up…

10. California… playing catch up • By 2014 all students need to be at B or above • At this point, schools need to gain 10% a year in order to do this • An average growth 2-3% per year • If goals are not reached 2 (consecutive?) years the school becomes PI

11. PI- Program Improvement • 3 years of growth required to leave PI • 2 years of no growth- state can take over (fire teachers, change curriculum) • If a certain % of schools don’t make growth state can take over district • Laws constantly changing and dependent on how poorly the entire district is doing- Lots of factors • However there is NO more money. State takeover= LESS MONEY

12. PI Schools • Schools taken over are not in a position as bad as a district taken over • Districts taken over state has carte blanche to do what they want • There are simply not enough teachers, principals to fill all the spaces. • Many districts with EL populations (remember the 34% percentile) will become PI at 60% proficiency • State cannot take over all districts

13. What about teachers? • All students are allowed to opt out of testing • HOWEVER if the school tests fewer than 98% of students it is penalized for not having enough students test • As a teacher I was NOT allowed to suggest, imply or mention that students opt out- Even if I felt it best

14. Teachers… . • Some teachers would encourage students (particularly Spec. Ed) to be absent on the day of the test • Basically have no recourse at this point. You have to give the test. If you don’t, you could be fired….it has happened • Support your unions, stay informed, teach to the best of your abilities

15. Personally… • I will sign my children out of testing or send them to private school… GASP • Why? Their personal history. • I don’t believe in assessment without action… • Benchmark testing….

16. Test Accommodations • You will be required to provide them students that have a 504 or IEP • You should provide them for your EL students • Keep in mind the CRESST cautions and recommendations • Remember that we are trying to make things equitable/

17. Test Bias • I thought some of the examples were shocking • I have used Eckwell Shanker and have never down graded a student for pronunciation… • There was not INTENT to create bias • We need to watch that in our own classrooms • For any assessment, I am willing to entertain other possible answers

18. Test vs. Assessment • A test is a form of an assessment • But an assessment does not have to be a test ! • Assessments can be authentic and created without bias or trickery • Assessments inform teaching by making you aware of your successes and failures with students

19. Assessment • Remember there are lots of different ways to assess. • Assessment should be occurring throughout the lesson • Nothing worse than getting to the end and seeing that students have missed something HUGE • Assess as you go

20. Assess as you go • Warm ups, class discussions, pop-quizzes, homework, etc… • With someone near you, discuss what you could in your content area INSTEAD of a test to assess knowledge… • Why I love multiple choice tests… and project based assessments.