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Re: “Opting Out”
As a teacher in the state of VA I can say her spin on things is exaggerated. Do I think there is too much emphasis on standardized tests nationwide? Yes. However, all those weeks she claims we are losing is just hyperbole. SOLs at our school take place over 3 weeks, just as they did before they used computers. Most kids take 3 tests, reading, math and social studies or science (by the way these are being eliminated for 3rd graders next year) so that way it is one test per week per kid. You can't test all kids 3-6 and accommodate kids in one day. On the days they are not being tested, they are back on the class learning. Our county does quarterly benchmarks, but not in 4th quarter due to SOLs. So during math an reading one day a quarter 3 times a year they do testing. Takes about an hour each, not a day. I agree It sounds like she needs better feedback, but the tests are guarded so the questions can be reused year to year and if they sent them home, parents would use them to coach their kids. Richmond may be different than Fairfax, but I still contend this is an exaggerated way of claiming how much time is spent testing.