Assessments
From Nine Reason why Assessments Matter
"So, what’s the big deal about assessments and testing? Well, we believe assessments provide parents and teachers with important information about how a child is progressing. It’s important for parents, education leaders and policymakers to know how our kids and our schools stack up against others in the state, nation and world. There are many reasons why assessments matter and students should take tests.
Here are nine reasons that assessments and testing are important for students and their families:
#1 Taking tests is a part of life. Whether it’s going to the doctor for an annual checkup or passing a driver’s test to get a license, people take tests throughout their life. State testing is a critical annual academic checkup to make sure student learning is on track.
#2 The SBAC exam provide an important measure of basic skills. High school tests, required of all students, ensure students graduate with a basic, foundational set of skills and knowledge that prepares them to pursue college and career opportunities.
#3 Keeping kids from taking tests is not a solution. If students refuse to take a test, parents and teachers will lose a key measure of how students are doing – whether they need more help or if their learning should be accelerated. We all want what’s best for kids, and part of that is honestly knowing where kids are academically.
#4 Refusing to take tests creates greater inequity in our education system. New state data shows that school districts with the highest test refusal, or opt-out, rates for high school primarily come from wealthier, property-rich areas. In comparison, students in lower-income districts participated in testing in much higher numbers. If all students are not taking the tests, we won’t know where to best target additional resources and support.
#5 Smarter Balanced tests measure whether a student is on the path to college and career readiness. The Smarter Balanced tests in grades 3-8 and high school measure the skills necessary for students be prepared for college or a career. These tests will help provide parents and teachers a better measure of what students need to know to be successful in today’s economy.
#6 The high school Smarter Balanced tests serve as a college placement exam. High school students who score a Level 3 or above on the Smarter Balanced math and English language arts exams can enroll in college level courses without further testing. These college and career ready assessments provide students with a critical opportunity to avoid remedial, or high school level, courses at our state’s two- and four-year colleges and universities. The California State University is now using the SBAC scores as a means of assessing whether a student is ready for college-level courses or might need remediation.
#7 The SBAC format can be preparation for other standard exams. In order to attend most 4-year colleges and universities, students will need to take the SAT or ACT, which are standard college entrance exams. Community colleges offer the AccuPlacer standard exam. When people apply to medical school, law school, graduate school or some other type of professional school, they take standard exams such as the MCAT, LSAT, GRE or some other type of exam.
#8 Some high school use SBAC scores as a placement tool for students. School may use a student's performance in the SBAC to decide whether a student will be placed in remedial, grade-level or advanced courses.
#9 According to some studies, districts and state testing takes up a small percentage of the school year. Required district and state testing takes up about 20 hours out of a 1,000-hour school year, which equals 2%. Highline Public Schools compiled this interesting infographic to show testing time by grade.
**Content created by Excellent Schools Now, a Stand Washington coalition, find the .pdf version here."
