Monty

This is a piece I submitted that was published this summer as a “Guest Viewpoint” in the Register-Guard. I am not against assessment, or even standardized tests; I am against their emphasis. I believe they are somewhat antithetical to innovative teaching and learning, and they are a 20th century construct in a time when we should be teaching innovation, collaboration, real-world problem-solving, critical thinking, and personal responsibility to 21st century human beings.

In this school year, 2013-2014, NAEP has again selected our school. They have added another assessment in science, increasing 8th grade Johnny’s potential total to 16 standardized tests.

The Real Cost of Standardized Tests

In a recent edition of the comic strip, “Sally Forth”, Sally’s middle school daughter Hilary asks herself, “Why do schools teach kids to pass tests instead of to actually acquire knowledge? Why must I go through this anxiety every single year?” Yearly? How about every 4.5 weeks.

Here’s a math problem: How many standardized tests did eighth grade Johnny take last year? He was in support classes for both reading and math, so he took one standardized test in each class every 4.5 weeks. In two semesters, he took eight of these “progress monitoring” tests. Johnny was also required to take the Oregon state reading, math, and science tests. If he did not pass the reading and math tests the first time, he was required to take them again. Johnny also took the Explore test, and he was “picked” to take the NAEP test as well.

Eighth grade Johnny’s total: Fifteen standardized tests during the school year.

Determining a dollar amount is harder problem! None of the costs appear specifically in 4j’s budget document. The first tests mentioned, those in Johnny’s support classes, entitled EasyCBM, were developed by the UO and sold to Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, a national publishing firm. It appears to cost $4.00 per student yearly. Every elementary and middle school student, even the most capable in reading and math, takes this test at least 3 times per year. There are about 10,000 students in our elementary and middle schools.

The Explore test, a pre-pre ACT test given to all 8th graders (the pre-ACT, or PLAN test is taken by 10th graders), costs $8.50 per student. There are about 1300 8th graders.

Easy CBM and Explore total: $51,000 and change. Although it may not seem like much to a big district like 4j, testing is big business across our state and our nation and answers are not easy to determine.

For instance, as a tax payer, do you know how much it costs Oregon to develop and outsource state math, reading, science and writing tests? With new tests coming our way, funded by grants from the Obama administration and administered by CTM-McGraw Hill, do you know how much it costs the federal government to fund state grants for these tests? What is McGraw Hill, a large publishing firm, charging?

Big money, big business, politics on a national scale. But money isn’t the only cost.

Time costs. How much time is Johnny involved in taking these tests? Bear with me: District EasyCBM tests for Johnny in his two support classes – 12 hours. Explore – 3 hours. The Oregon state reading test – 3 hours; math and science each – 2 hours. If Johnny has to retake both the state math and reading test, another 5 hours. The NAEP test, given to about 1/2 of the 8th grade population in selected 4j middle schools – 2 hours.

Total: 27 hours, equivalent to a school week minus lunch.

Johnny’s ordeal doesn’t account for the time teachers spend on test preparation during “testing season”, the period of time allowed for the administration of state tests during the months of April and May. Teachers administer sample tests and reteach content and test taking strategies. For all content and support classes, add two more full days for test preparation. Add teacher time to learn how to administer and proctor the various tests.

There is test scheduling. Since all the state tests as well as Easy CBM are online, computer lab time must be scheduled for all students in middle and elementary schools. An absent student? That student will be pulled from class to make up tests. During the months of April and May many schools that have fewer computer resources face a real crunch. If the lab is located in the school’s library, books cannot be checked out and students cannot access the lab for online lessons or projects.

Any administrator can quote rationales for standardized tests: EasyCBM monitors students’ progress; NAEP determines the nation’s educational progress; Explore determines a student’s progress toward future goals; the state test determines a student’s progress toward graduation. There is a great deal feel-good spin about the necessity of each test, but it’s entirely possible Johnny doesn’t feel so good.

Want to know how Johnny does in math, science, or reading? Ask his teachers! Assessment happens every day in Johnny’s classrooms in a variety of ways. The emphasis placed on test results crowds out much of what is truly important, exciting lessons and projects that incorporate innovation, critical thinking, team work, and personal responsibility in addition to reading, science and math.

Maybe then 8th grade Johnny will find meaning and inspiration in his educational journey instead of trying to pass standardized tests 15 times each year.

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The following is a Guest Viewpoint article I submitted that was published in the Register-Guard during Spring Break, 2015: