As students await the annual standardized testing the state and
federal government uses to judge school performance, many may be
concerned about their own scores, but most students are unaware the
tests hold significant importance for schools that could face
sanctions if students perform poorly.
Hollister – As students await the annual standardized testing the state and federal government uses to judge school performance, many may be concerned about their own scores, but most students are unaware the tests hold significant importance for schools that could face sanctions if students perform poorly.
Each year second through 11th graders spend hours participating in California’s Standardized Testing and Reporting program, which is designed to measure students’ knowledge in a broad spectrum of subjects, ranging from math to history. Scores for the test comprise the Academic Performance Index, which is used by the federal government in determining Adequate Yearly Progress as part of the No Child Left Behind act and the state to judge schools’ proficiency.
If a school fails to meet its state-calculated growth target, it risks intervention, such as the state taking over school’s finances and influence the school’s procedures. After several years of missing their AYP, top administrators can be fired and schools can be taken over by the state.
“The state may limit how you can spend money,” said County Superintendent of Schools Tim Foley. “It may be more prescriptive and take away local control and bring in a bunch of outsiders … from my perspective that’s both an injury and an insult.”
Sunnyslope School in Hollister, for example, may face such intervention next year if it does not meet its six point growth target. In 2003-04 Sunnyslope dropped by 11 points.
“We’ve made some changes,” Sunnyslope Principal Melinda Scott said, talking about making sure that students have the skills needed to do well on the test. “We’ve really focused on attendance. Here at Sunnyslope attendance has not been as good as it should be.”
To that end, the school instituted a tardy bell and also rewards students with perfect attendance with treats and prizes.
Attendance has improved, she said, and the Sunnyslope has also offered after school programs for reading, math and English language.
San Benito High School is also facing state intervention if students scores fall below the AYP. Last December the school received a letter from the California Department of Education warning that it was at risk of becoming a Program Improvement school after its API dropped by four points.
While teachers try to familiarize students with the actual format of the test – which entails shading in bubbles on a answer sheet with a pencil – the knowledge students bring to the exam comes strictly from the things they learn each day in the classroom.
“It’s what we work on all year long, making sure students master standards closely aligned with what the state is testing,” Scott said.
Many educators appreciate standardized testing as a measurement of student progress, but they also think that too much is riding on the tests.
“The test is only one glimpse. It is unfortunate that we put all our eggs in one basket,” said Bob Hammond, principal at Ladd Lane School. “I have a problem just with the philosophy. But it is what it is, and we deal with that.”
Also, Foley said, California schools lack the funding needed to achieve the high standard that the state demands.
“We have a Lexus in the garage, but we have the tools and everything else for a jalopy,” he said.
Testing will be conducted for several hours a day for about a week, starting in the middle of the month for most schools, though local schools often test on different dates.
Luke Roney covers education and agriculture for the Free Lance. Reach him at 831-637-5566 ext. 335 or at lr****@fr***********.com.
