It is PARCC testing day and many students grumble their way through hours of mediocre testing that does not affect their future. Other students sleep in and get rest that they need. The day is wasted and valuable school instruction time is lost.
Independent School District in Katy, Texas have made the decision to rid the district of high-stakes and standardized tests. Instead, the district is in favor of localized tests that will determine what students need to work on.
This is a huge leap in working to make education better for every student. Tests like the PARCC, which received low approval ratings, force students to lose valuable class time. This tests also put students into demeaning labels.
In recent months, more students, parents, teachers, and administrators have been protesting tests like the PARCC, and still, tests are made to appear mandatory. Students can receive results that are “partially proficient” and still be receiving straight “A”s.
Now, instead of officially opting out, some students in Colorado are refusing to take the test. They show up, sit down, and do not answer a single question. Nothing gets done, they wake up early and attend school for no reason. Still, the Board of Education thinks that standardized testing is a good idea.
These results can be inaccurate, because they are compared to the rest of the nation. A student can be great at math, but the PARCC will make it feel like they are not. This is due to the time limit and stressful nature of these tests. They feel pressured to do well, not pressured to learn.
Instead of holding students back from learning and focusing on scores instead of improvement, the district can do something better.
Once Cherry Creek school district focuses on improving the lives of each students through localized testing, testing that does not affect a school’s rating, students will be more equipped to learn and grow. Standardized, high-risk tests should be banned.
For more information, read Brandy Holm’s article at:
https://smokynow.com/the-alternative-to-testing/