Testing (page 2)

My son’s public school has asked parents to donate items for “care packages” that are designed to “promote a positive and encouraging End of Grade Testing environment.”  They have asked for the following items: two No. 2 pencils, one highlighter, a few peppermint candies, a small bag of chips, a…

At their annual Representative Assembly meeting yesterday, the National Education Association (NEA) voted to support the movement to opt out of standardized tests. That should be reason enough for conservatives to keep their distance from the opt out movement. Many lefties believe the opt out movement is the first…

I’m reviewing proposed special provisions associated with H.B. 97, 2015 Appropriations Act (pdf). The House Appropriations Committee on Education recommendation is to strike the following  language currently in Chapter 115C-105.35 of the NC General Statutes. During the 2004-2005 school year and at least every five years…

Last Thursday, the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) released their annual report of graduation rates and test results.  Again, the 2013-14 results leave us with more questions than answers. In 2012-13 the Common Core standards were taught, and new DPI developed tests were given.  The students performed so…

LAST YEAR the Department of Public Instruction (DPI) developed assessments aligned to the new Common Core Standards.  Even though the tests were given to students spring of 2013, the State Board did not release the extremely low scores until November of 2013. Previously Dr. Terry Stoops expressed…

School districts across North Carolina rejoiced yesterday, as the State Board of Education approved their requests to administer alternatives to the state’s third-grade reading test.  Districts objected to the plan to use state end-of-grade reading tests to fulfill the requirements of the Read to Achieve program. If you…

It’s that time of year again!  The mainstream media will ignore test results from charter schools so that they can bash them in editorials later in the school year. In Part 1, I will examine the composite reading and math scores for grade 3-8.  In Part 2, I will…

Last year, 12.5 percent of black males in grades 3-8 were proficient in reading and math. That is correct – 12.5 percent. The NC Department of Public Instruction (DPI) contends that the state “raised the bar” by implementing more rigorous standards and tests.  They say that these test results…