TEACHERS’ RESPONSES TO BLUE RIBBON COMMISSION
ON TESTING & ACCOUNTABILITY
ASSIGNMENT (by Terry Holliday):
Asked cmte to:
1. indicate their present concerns with Commission’s recommendations
2. provide ideas on how to assess skills in a 21st-century environment
3. recommend items to keep/put in Tier1 | Tier2 (or list of concerns)
FACILITATOR FLIPCHART #1: Summary of Commission’s
recommendations
K–8
Elimination of 4th & 7th writing.
Labels to match NAEP
21st
9 – 12
5 EOCs
• Eng 1
• Alg 1
• Biology
• US
• Civics
Graduation 3 – 5, Move Eng I to II,
• Delete writing remediation rates, Graduation Project
Recommendations to keep Comments, Concerns, Question (NOTE:
used Commission’s numeration on yellow handouts for items; items
generated by regional Teachers of the Year)
#26, #27, #28
#20, #21, #22, #23, #24, #25
#8, #9, #14, #3, #4, #5, #6, #15√√√
#19 Absolutely Vital
Issues, questions concerns with current recommendations
Is moving from 10 to 5 EOCs the right move for student acct?
Teachers will seriously question a cumulative test (over 2 years).
How will the English EOC be combined with the writing test?
Is an English II EOC going to include both genre studies and (as curr. is now) World
Literature.
Should English II curriculum be changed from World Literature to Nonfiction Studies?
To World Studies? To ???
English Lang Arts will need to offer teacher training if curr. changes are made.
#4 Rec. should be made that Grad. Project should be housed in English Dept.
exclusively.
For EOC classes.
Growth model for EOCs
-
Graduated, “scaffolded” so that growth to achieve “basic” does not make large,
unsupported leaps
Return school calendar to local flexibility
#19 Be sure technology funding (ie equipment, servers working) is provided consistently
throughout LEAs – no flexibility in use of funds.
#19 Technology – apportion funding based on real need.
Accountability for tech. funding distribution within each district, competitive pricing from
state contractors on technology.
Recommendation 27
In a 21st Century state how are ok with removing the on line computer test?
We need computer experts at the elementary level teaching computer skills regularly.
Have more choice in the writing test; narrative writing, creative writing.
Ideas for 21st Century Accountability Assessments
Combine computer skills test and writing test. Somehow have the writing test be on
online – publishes test.
The test would be more real world application.
Could it be a couple of days – with some prep.
I.e. Have students choose subject and genre days before test – ten use technology to
input material and publish a writing test.
We need to stop having our tests in curriculum “SILOS’ and make them move into
webs of cross curriculum study.
Tier 1 – State 75%
Writing test online/or computer
Writing assessment via electronic test/portfolio (with tech. support & resources In Place)
Multiple Languages
Tier 2 – 25%
Move computer skills test to local accountability.
End back yard mentality in local regions.
How do you do this with out funding.
Access how well local students tap into local markets and learn to rationalize that
market.
Portfolio of writing science (contingent on MUCH TRAINING)
Local writing benchmarks
K-3, 5-8, 9-12
Portfolio/Project-Based:
•
•
•
Career – based
Connected w/counselor
Coordinator
•
•
•
•
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Training on State Level
Incorporate technology
Community – based
Job training
Culminated in Grad. Project
Electronic Student Portfolios:
Would require:
Computer access for all students before, during & after school.
Scanners
Technology mentors to bridge the digital divide.
Certified, licensed technology teachers
Local Assessment which supports State required EOCs & EOGs at earlier grades. For
ex. to prepare for 8th grade computer skills test have a local computer skills test at 5th
grade level to access students skills. This assessment will be used for middle school
teachers to use for instructional planning.