Survey for Parents, Grandparents, Students, Employers, Teachers:
Reauthorization of the California Pupil Assessment System
As Californians we all have many reasons to care about what students are taught in school. This survey is your opportunity to be heard by decision makers in state education. If you are a student, then you have obvious reasons to care what you are legally required to learn. If you are an employer, then you have reason to care what your future employees will know how to do. The survey asks twelve questions about the state test and will take you three minutes to quickly complete.
“As part of the process in developing recommendations to the Legislature for the reauthorization of the California pupil assessment system, the State Superintendent of Public Instruction (SSPI) is seeking your help. All Californians have a unique opportunity to provide thoughts and suggestions for what they think should be included in this system. Comments will be vital in helping the SSPI make his recommendations to the Legislature. In order to include as much input as possible, we encourage you share this survey link with others you think may be interested in providing input. Thank you for your time.” (http://bit.ly/reauthorization)
Below is a preview of the questions and suggested answers. There is plenty to be stated about education and state testing, although I doubt anyone will read volumes of your mantra. Feel free to use and expand upon the answers below.
Preview
1. Which role best describes you?
Teacher, administrator, parent, student, etc.
2. For teachers or administrators, please indicate your number of years of experience.
3. What information do you need the statewide assessments to provide about student achievement?
Yearly growth of students in a holistic manner.
4. Which content would you like to see assessed and at which grade levels?
Grades 3-8 all
5. Which content would you like to see assessed and at which grade levels?
Grades 9-11 all
6. How important is it that these type(s) of assessment(s) are included in the California assessment system?
Somewhat Important
7. What are the most important factors that should be considered (including accommodations and modifications) to ensure assessments are valid for English learners (ELs)? Mark all that apply.
Clear guidelines are provided about EL eligibility for accommodations and modifications.
Primary language assessments are available for eligible ELs.
Teachers regularly use EL assessment accommodations and modifications in the classroom.
ELs are provided the opportunity to learn with rigorous high-quality instruction.
8. What are the most important factors that should be considered (including accommodations and modifications) to ensure assessments are valid for students with disabilities (SWDs)? Mark all that apply.
Clear guidelines are provided about SWD eligibility for accommodations and modifications.
Modified assessments are available for eligible SWDs.
Teachers regularly use SWD assessment accommodations and modifications in the classroom.
SWDs are provided the opportunity to learn with appropriate and rigorous high-quality instruction.
9. What are the most important factors that should be considered (including accommodations and modifications) to ensure assessments are valid for other significant subgroups? Identify the factor(s) and subgroup(s)?
Time in country/time in state for incoming students; transiency.
10. How should the results from the future assessment system be used? Mark all that apply.
Feedback to students, parents, or teachers
Public information on quality of schools or school districts
Accountability for students (e.g., classroom academic grades)
Accountability for teachers
Accountability for administrators
If other, please specify
Accountability for parents/guardians and politicians.
11. Provide any additional comments about the reauthorization of the California assessment system.
Standards should progress equally from grade to grade. Currently there is a large degree of difference between grades 5 and 6, especially in mathematics. The mathematics standards require sixth graders to master what used to be seventh and eighth grade skills, while what used to be sixth grade skills were almost completely eliminated. Students, parents, and teachers are very frustrated with that increase in rigor between grades 5 and 6 and struggle to fill the gap.
Also, the overemphasis on language arts and mathematics in the standardized tests has marginalized other subjects. Reducing the breadth of questions in language arts and mathematics and including each subject would be helpful to chart student growth in a more holistic manner. Useful mathematics is a vital life skill, economics, consumer math, and business math should be strengthened, offered, and incorporated at all grade levels.
Common Core Standards are currently being rolled out. The Common Core Standards are a blueprint. Each state has the freedom to choose their own curricula, those are the details of how to reach the Common Core Standards. Does this freedom really exist? Will it be taken away in the future? Are there back room deals with the Common Core and Obama's Race to the Top? This is something to watch. Are the Common Core Standards good? Should we have these? Why should we support the Common Core? Will we have to spend billions more on new textbooks, workbooks, videos, et cetera?
Also, the overemphasis on language arts and mathematics in the standardized tests has marginalized other subjects. Reducing the breadth of questions in language arts and mathematics and including each subject would be helpful to chart student growth in a more holistic manner. Useful mathematics is a vital life skill, economics, consumer math, and business math should be strengthened, offered, and incorporated at all grade levels.
Common Core Standards are currently being rolled out. The Common Core Standards are a blueprint. Each state has the freedom to choose their own curricula, those are the details of how to reach the Common Core Standards. Does this freedom really exist? Will it be taken away in the future? Are there back room deals with the Common Core and Obama's Race to the Top? This is something to watch. Are the Common Core Standards good? Should we have these? Why should we support the Common Core? Will we have to spend billions more on new textbooks, workbooks, videos, et cetera?
12. If there are future activities related to the reauthorization of the California assessment system and you would like to be considered for participation, complete your contact information.
Prior to taking the survey you may wish to gather a little more information about education.
Go to this address to take the survey.
http://bit.ly/reauthorization
Credit: cde.ca.gov
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