As the State prepares to administer PARCC assessments to students, there has been considerable discussion about these new tests and most recently about parents wishing to “opt out” of state tests for their children. I would like to take a moment to share District’s position on how best to advocate for a more reasonable approach to assessment as well as more information about the issue from the Ohio Department of Education (ODE).
Last week the Ohio Department of Education (ODE) released the following to local districts. ODE has asked school districts to share this information with you and the attached document titled “Information on Student Participation in State Tests.”
We understand that many districts are receiving communications from some families refusing their children’s participation in state tests this spring. The department encourages schools to talk with families about their concerns regarding testing. To help inform this conversation, the department has developed this information for districts and families about student participation in state tests. There is no law that allows a parent or student to opt-out of state testing and there is no state test opt-out procedure or form. It also details the consequences for students, teachers and districts when students do not participate in state tests. The department has other resources to help this conversation, including information on state tests. For example, many refer to all the state tests as “PARCC tests.” However, English language arts and mathematics are the only subjects that are PARCC tests. The Ohio Graduation Tests, the third grade reading test this year, and all the science and social studies tests are created by Ohio using a different test vendor.
Every public school district in Ohio is required by law to administer a number of statewide standardized tests as described in OAC § 3301-13-02(B). A complete list of the required standardized tests may be found in Ohio Administrative Code (“OAC”) § 3301-13-01(D). These tests are designed to measure student comprehension of the academic content standards that have been adopted by the State Board of Education. If you have questions about state testing requirements, please contact the Ohio Department of Education at [email protected]. If you have questions about State testing dates, please find this information at http://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Testing-old/Testing-Materials/2014-2015-Testing-Dates.
ODE has prepared a document about this for schools and parents. What this information means is that the state does not have an “opt out” policy or a law that allows parents to opt students out of the test. Parents can refuse to have their child take the test. While Perrysburg School District supports and respects parents’ and guardians’ rights and wishes, the District, like the State, does not support refusing to take tests.
I think the Board, administration and most employees are unanimous in that we do not like the amount of testing resulting from Ohio’s New Assessment System including PARCC and AIR testing. Perhaps if the new English Language Arts (ELA) and Math Assessments were completed in just one or even two sessions instead of ten, we would not be having this discussion. I think we are unanimous in that we feel there is way too much testing. I would venture that we are unanimous in that we do not like the draconian ways in which student assessment data are being applied. No one likes the anxiety that tests create with some students.
Some feel that refusing to have students take the tests will send a message to the State. It will not, but it will hurt us locally. Several bills have already been introduced this year to reduce the amount of testing. The State Superintendent released a report a short time ago calling for the reduction of testing. Having students refuse testing now will not change the growing consensus that we need to make a change.
I am fearful of the potential impact that widespread refusals to take the tests may have on our community, district, buildings and individual staff members. Encouraging students to refuse local tests will begin to unravel the hard work that teachers have done to prepare students for these assessments. It may leave a mess here and cause the community to question the direction of the Board and district as well as the effectiveness of staff when student achievement results drop as reported by the State. There are so many questions about the ramifications of refusing to take the test that to advocate to do this without fully understanding the impactions is very risky.
Last week, Senate Bill 3, titled the “Deregulation of Public Schools,” recommended many useful and exciting exemptions from state requirements. However, to be eligible for these exemptions, the district must be considered “high performing.” According to the bill, “High performing schools are defined as having a Performance Index (PI) of 102 and above out of 120 possible (85% of the highest PI score possible and above), scoring an A on performance indicators (meeting at least 22 of 24 performance indicators), 4 year graduation rate of 93% and above, 5 year graduation rate of 95% and above.”
If enough students refuse to take the test, school districts’ Performance Index (PI) score will fall and may result in being ineligible for these provisions, which would have benefited students and staff alike.
Here are the components from SB 3 and I have italicized those things that pertain to being a high performing district:
Regulatory/Mandate Relief for Schools
1. Eliminates the state requirement that schools administer state third grade reading tests each fall starting with the 2015-16 school year.
2. Eliminates the state requirement that schools administer math and writing diagnostic tests in first through third grades starting with the 2015-16 school year.
3. Limits the amount of state & local standardized testing to no more than 2% of the hours in the school year. Limits the amount of time spent practicing for tests to 1% of the school year. Local school boards will have the ability to exceed the limitation if they have a school board hearing and pass a resolution at a school board meeting stating that they plan to exceed this limitation.
4. Makes it clear that schools may contract for health care services with hospitals and other licensed health care plans. (3313.72 permits schools to contract with Bids of Health for services)
5. Increases the competitive bid threshold for schools from $25,000 to $50,000.
6. Exempts high performing schools from state class size requirements. High performing schools are defined as having a performance index of 102 and above out of 120 possible (85% of the highest PI score possible and above), scoring an A on performance indicators (meeting at least 22 of 24 performance indicators), 4 year graduation rate of 93% & above, 5 year graduation rate of 95% & above.
7. Exempts high performing schools from the credentialing requirements of teachers assigned to teach struggling readers in third grade who are retained or students in third grade who require intervention. (3313.608)
8. Exempts high performing schools from teacher placement based upon licensure requirements.
9. Exempts high performing schools from requirements that they receive services through an ESC (3313.843 &3313.845).
10. Exempts high performing schools from the requirement that they provide mentors as part of the Resident Educator Program upon demonstration of an existing local approach to train and support new teachers.
11. Permits a superintendent in a high performing school to hire an individual to teach who is not a licensed teacher provided the school board agrees the person’s experience and expertise qualifies the person for the position.
12. Requires the Ohio School Facilities Construction Commission to develop a plan by Dec 15, 2015 to permit high performing schools that have not yet received assistance under the Classroom Facilities Assistance Program (CFAP) upon becoming eligible for CFAP to draw down a portion of the state funds they are eligible to receive to use for technology, building expansion and physical changes to improve school safety or security.
How our district performs on state assessments does matter to staff and students. In the end, parents and guardians will make the best decisions for their children. As a district, we advocate taking the required tests and giving the Senate Bill 3 changes time to move forward. If you have questions, please contact your building principal and discuss your concerns with us. We continue to advocate vigorously for these changes at the state level. This is where the fight belongs – not in our classrooms.
As always, if you have questions, please feel free to contact me at [email protected] or 419-874-9131 ext. 2103.
Sincerely,
Thomas L. Hosler
Superintendent
Perrysburg Schools