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Common Core ELA opt-outs: O'burg number flat, Massena & Parishville-Hopkinton decrease from last year

Posted 4/13/16

  By JIMMY LAWTON, MATT LINDSEY and ANDY GARDNER About the same number of Ogdensburg students opted out of state English Language Arts Common Core exams this year, but Massena and …

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Common Core ELA opt-outs: O'burg number flat, Massena & Parishville-Hopkinton decrease from last year

Posted

 

By JIMMY LAWTON, MATT LINDSEY and ANDY GARDNER

About the same number of Ogdensburg students opted out of state English Language Arts Common Core exams this year, but Massena and Parishville-Hopkinton school officials saw a decline in the number of pupils refusing the test.

One hundred and four, or 13.7 percent, of students in grades three though eight opted out of Common Core English Language Arts assessment tests this year in Ogdensburg.

That’s nearly the same as last year when 103 students or 13.4 percent opted out. Eighth graders accounted for the largest number of students opting out of tests, with about 27.6 percent choosing to skip the exams.

In Massena, the number of students refusing to take the ELA exams is declining, according to Massena Central Superintendent of Schools Patrick Brady.

He said 17.6 percent opted out this year, compared to 25.6 percent in 2015.

“There were 1,201 students in grades 3-8 who were eligible to take the New York state English Langauge Arts exam. Of those students, 210 refused to take the test,” Brady said.

He said their highest number of refusals were in grade five with 31 students, grade seven with 55 students and grade eight with 68 students.

At Parishville-Hopkinton Central School, the number of students opting out of Common Core assessment exams has dropped drastically, from 34 percent last year to 11 percent this year.

The non-participating rate is based on English Language Arts (ELA) tests for students in third- through eighth grade students. Students took the ELA exams last week.

“It’s a little early, but I expect similar numbers for math tests,” said PHCS Superintendent Darin P. Saiff. The math test started Wednesday and concludes Friday.

Ogdensburg Curriculum Director Kevin Kendall said the tests this year significantly changed from last year’s exams, but perhaps not as much as some parents would have liked.

“There were fewer questions, fewer passages and students were able to use extended time as long as they were productive and working,” he said. “It seemed from what I saw and what I heard from teachers and principals, that students were happier were with the tests because they weren’t under as much pressure.”

Brady noted that the changes were more centered on structure rather than content.

“Both the ELA and Math assessments in grades 3-6 have been made shorter this year. The Math test will have fewer questions overall and the ELA test will have one less reading passage and fewer questions to answer,” Brady said in a March 9 memo to parents. “Assessments this year have been developed with much greater involvement from teachers than has ever previously been the case. Teachers from across the state, including some from Massena, have worked to evaluate and select this year’s test questions. NYS will continue this process and by 2018, NYS teachers will not only be selecting questions but also writing questions for the tests.”

In previous years students were allotted between 60 and 70 minutes. Kendall said the time limit added another layer of frustration for students.

“For many students I think it was a sigh of relief,” he said.

Kendall said the state has taken steps to address the problems raised by educators, parents and students over the past year.

“I am glad the state has taken the steps they have taken, and I think they have alleviated some of the anxiety of the students that have taken the tests. Here, our parents are still saying that it’s not enough,” he said citing the opt out rates.

Kendall said another change implemented this year is that the tests taken by students over the last week will be shared with teachers. Prior to this there was “absolutely zero release of the questions” Kendall said. This meant teachers were unable to use the material from previous tests to prepare students for the following year.

“At the end of the day, I like that the state is making changes that are impacting kids,” he said.

Brady said he hasn’t yet received feedback from faculty, staff or parents.

“We have not heard strong feedback one way or the other at this point. The exams are in the process of being scored so a deeper analysis has not been completed on the questions,” he said.

Saiff said he feels part of the reason less students are opting out this year is because of the positive response from the State Education Department.

“They were responsive to educator and parental concerns,” he said.

Changes in testing from last year include allowing students an unlimited amount of time to complete the test.

The tests also have fewer questions and better transparency, Saiff said.

“I am seeing students get done in a shorter amount of time versus last year,” he said.

Saiff said that he was “hopeful” the trend of students opting out continues to go down.

“Choosing not to take tests could lead to life character issues like teaching grit,” he said.

Saiff says he is “glad students are taking a shot.”

“The teachers and staff have done a nice to let students know they are prepared for the test and not to worry about one test defining them,” he said.