Testing, testing, and more testing, why does it seem so much testing is needed? As most of you who read this board routinely know I have a son who is in 8th grade special ed. It was determined that he did not need re-evaluation for his IEP because it is well established where his difficulties lie and that progress has been noted. The problem is that so far this year there seems to be so much testing. The 8th grade was given the MAT8 partial test we were told to determine next years placement.
Then they were given a math placement test, I don’t know which test, just one to be used to determine placement for math. They were required to take these same placement tests for reading and writing, again I don’t know which specific test, but to be used for placement. My understanding is that the MAT8 partial test tests all these areas—so why 2 tests? Then to top it all off my son comes home yesterday and says he is taking the MAT7 tests this week, the only students required to take this test for the 8th graders is the LD students. Then in the beginning of April they are going to take the Illinois Standard Achievement test. I don’t think all this testing is so neccessary, when are the students to learn if all they are doing is testing? Am I crazy for feeling this way or do you all agree?
Re: So much testing
I absolutely agree but this fashion right now is testing. And the newest federal law passed supports all this testing. Expect it to go on until sanity prevails again.
found out why both the MAT7 and MAT8
I finally asked the school about the testing. Their answer was the MAT7 is be given to the LD 7th graders because that is the standard test taken last year. They want to compare last years scores to this years scores and it is easier to do this when the same test is used. The reason for both the MAT8 and the high school placement test is because they did not want 1 score to determine placement, they wanted a full picture of the student. And of course the ISAT because it is Illinois achievement tests to see how the student is doing compared to state standards. Still leaves me wondering though when those poor teachers actually get to teach?
Re: found out why both the MAT7 and MAT8
I meant 8th graders, they took the test in 7th and now again in 8th.
President Bush has received much support for pushing annual standardized testing on all of the states for all grades; if your state doesn’t have it yet, it soon will. In my state, Massachusetts, ALL students need to pass the 10th grade testing to get a high school diploma.