Lets talk about STAR testing in CA public schools

[mad4mady]

So, dd is in second grade and her school is nuts with the stars testing. DD said she was stressed about the test The emphasis that is placed on these test drive me nuts!

I told her not to sweat it...and that it gives a grade to her teacher and principal But, I am wondering if that is not the case anymore and if its counts against them in anyway too.

Also, I am wondering if anyone has or knows if its possible to opt out of the standardized testing...

Megan

[monkeybars]

I think you are right, it is to rate the progress of the schools. We will get our child's results at the end of summer, but they do not impact the individual students. My DD is also in second grade and finished last week as well. Fortunately she has a fabulous, experienced teacher who thoroughly prepared them without putting stress on the kids. DD came home everyday saying how much she loves taking these tests and wants to take some over summer vacation! Thanks to her teacher, they are more like a game and I'm happy her first introduction to these standardized tests was so positive.

[mad4mady]

I'm glad your dd has had a better experience. I think it all comes down to the teacher! I don't think I would mind the test if they were presented the way your dd's teacher is doing it! I can hope for next year!

[St. Margaret]

You can opt out, they just won't tell you about that b/c if too many kids do that, the school doesn't get an API. Plus, if she's a good student, they want her scores counted. My HS is in the middle of STAR and I was proctoring and MAN it's funny to do that all day and then come home to my child-centered/sorta unschooling home .

[SpringMom]

Ask your school office or District Headquarters for an opt out form. It is true that this option is not widely advertised because schools can be punished for not having a certain percentage of students tested. This is to prevent schools from 'encouraging' low performing students to not take the test. I also tell my students that this test is - in part - a grade for me and the other staff members. I also encourage them to take showing what they know as seriously as I've taken teaching them. At 2nd grade the results don't matter much to them, but in Middle School they will influence what classes they are allowed to take.

I hate these tests. It makes me sick watching a whole year of teaching boil down to one test that the kids don't really care about.

[BCFD]

I have major issues with STAR testing. Now that I've said it, my kids go to a public Montessori charter school (which does require they do the STAR testing), but from what I understand they don't put a lot of stress on it. It's somewhat presented as a "job" in practical life. I would really question the teacher if my child came home stressing out about it. Grrr....

I put absolutely no relevance in STAR testing as it doesn't tell me how well rounded my child is and could really care less about the school's API (which I think is somewhere around the 800 mark?).

[Satori]

Our K12 virtual school is also nuts about the scores and they do impact the student directly. If the student does poorly on the test they get assigned extra stuff to help bring up there scores the next year.