Standardized testing in Kindergarten!

[Sneezykids]

Hi, I just found out they are giving a test to all my dd's school including K! It's called the MAT and they will take it all week starting Monday!!
I have never heard of anything so ridiculous. I'll have to find out what time the test is and try to keep her home. I'm just really against this. Five year old being subjected to testing!

[bestjob]

It seems to be the season... my Grade 3 dd is at home for the week while the rest of the kids write a big series of tests. What bothers me even more than the imposition of the test by the school system, though, is the number of parents who agree with me that it is a huge waste of the kids' time, but who can't be bothered to take their kids out of school because they'd have to find something for the children to do. Grrr!

[Clarity]

keep her home, I agree.

[teachma]

And now for the public elementary school teacher opinion...keep her home, for sure! I would if it were my son. At my school, we start the standardized testing in 2nd grade which, in my opinion, is waaaaayyy too early. But kindergarten? What state do you live in, if I may ask? And have you determined whether your school is required, by the state, to give this test to 5 year olds or whether they chose to? Just curious!

[Sneezykids]

Originally posted by teachma
And now for the public elementary school teacher opinion...keep her home, for sure! I would if it were my son. At my school, we start the standardized testing in 2nd grade which, in my opinion, is waaaaayyy too early. But kindergarten? What state do you live in, if I may ask? And have you determined whether your school is required, by the state, to give this test to 5 year olds or whether they chose to? Just curious!

Teachma,
I called the teacher this morning and asked what time they would be taking the test, she said starting at 8:45am and then throughout the day. I thought I could send her in after or before the test but it doesn't seem possible now.
I live in Michigan. She goes to a charter school, it's a public school still. Her teacher told me to call the office because the test is 'required', so I don't know if it's required by state or by their school only. I'm thinking it's by the schools choice. I'm waiting a few minutes to call them. If that is the case I don't know what my options are. Em's teacher said if she misses it this week she'll have to make it up next week. She was also trying to tell me the MAT test they are taking is FOR K's, but I retorted that I found online the MAT test is designed for 1st grade and up! However, they push 1st grade math and reading/spelling on the K's there anyway so it could be they are just making them take the 1st grade version. Grrr! I'm pretty fired up about this.
What should I do?
:

[bestjob]

Phew! I don't have any advice about your situation, just lots of respect for a mom who is willing to ask questions. I am in the lucky position of having the teacher and the school administration actually support my decision to keep my daughter out of school during the testing. Good luck to you! Keep us posted.

[Trishy]

I just wanted to put in a word of support for you mama. I have been following this thread with interest. Ds will more than likely go to public school and I didn't even think keeping them out during these tests was an option. Good for you for making a stand for your dd!

[lauren]

Perhaps you've already made a choice, but I was wondering if you called the superintendent (does that apply with a charter school?) to find out the accuracy of the statement that it is a k-garten version of the test. Ask for some written info on it (this might be helpful even if you've sent your daughter in) so you can further evaluate. Schools usually encourage parents to be informed and concerned about curriculum, etc., so why not these tests? I'd ask for info, past year's test results, how the school uses the results (i.e. is it just for their own info, for funding, etc.) I also applaud you!

[Sneezykids]

update

Thanks everyone for your support. I called the director yesterday and spoke with her about the test and told her I was keeping my dd home. The test is required by the chartering university to all of it's charter schools, but is not legally required by the state. She did explain what was on the test and how it's broken up into small time amounts throughout the day. She also asked why I chose to keep my dd home. She explained they take the test as part of Bush's "No child left behind" bill, and that in a few years kids will be legally required to take them (yikes)...for my dd's school, they use it to track what is being learned from year to year and how the kids compare on a national percentile. I borrowed a copy of their Standard and Poors school evaluation so I can see what they have done, what they are doing, how the school rates. This is a fairly new charter school, in it's 4th year.
So! After considering several options I decided to send dd to school today. Today is her birthday and I know she wanted to bring a snack and have that special time. She has also missed about 13 or 14 days of school this year and the school only allows 20 days. The director also made a point. In dd's class they've been doing spelling tests (10 words) since January and she said those tests are more 'stressful' than this MAT, that it has pictures they just pick the right picture. This MAT is designed for K, I checked that too.
I also called a (retired staying home w/ her baby) teacher friend of mine who taught in the regular public school that Emily would be going to (and might in the fall) and she said they administer the Iowa test in 1st. I guess unless you homeschool there is no escaping these tests, esp. once the Bush bill enforces it as state mandated.
Another factor that changed my mind was that Emily said the practice test was easy and she didn't seem at all bothered by it. I just hate feeling like I gave in but I think I'm doing the right thing.
Sorry so long.

[bestjob]

I definitely think you did the right thing because you did what was right for your dd. If you really want to avoid the test next time, find out how you can do it without causing her any upset or trouble with the school. You can only advocate for your own child and work with other parents to improve the system. You can't single-handedly change the way public schools work, especially when ypu find out on Friday that the testing starts on Monday!

[mommy22]

sneezykids....
my kids also go to a charter school. we live in florida. although i don't really like the tests (we take the FCAT), it is important for the sake of the charter. if we cannot account for the children's educational progress through these tests, our charter will get revoked. my school is too important to me and my kids, so i send them for the tests. btw...we got our tests scores today, and my son got a perfect score on the math, and only missed one on the reading!!! (just had to brag). the tests don't seem stressful for my son, and he actually enjoyed the week of testing. no homework that week!!

[Sneezykids]

You can't single-handedly change the way public schools work, especially when ypu find out on Friday that the testing starts on Monday!

>>Exactly. The director asked if I had looked over the test, well when they don't tell you until Friday and the test is Monday, when was I supposed to have the chance to do that?! :
DD came home and said she did great "didn't get any wrong, well maybe the last page.." (ha) I told her before school to not worry about the test, don't worry if you don't know the answer, etc.
Also, Mommy22, I know it's important for the charter. There are some things about our charter school that are making me consider taking dd out and enrolling her in the regular public school next fall. But that is a different thread right!?

[mommy22]

sneezykids...
it's a shame that you were not informed about the test until practically the day before...that would bother me, too.

i was curious about what you don't like about your charter school. i love mine, but i do know that they are not perfect. i am always eager to find out other parents like/dislike about their charter. this is our first year as a charter (used to be private) so i am still learning about all the charter stuff. i love our school so much, and financially, really need it, so i am always involved and work like a dog to insure that the school will remain a charter.

back to the subject, i think you handled the situation beautifully, and your child seems to have done very well, not only on the actual test, but on the stress factor as well. i think alot of problems with stand. tests is the pressure the children feel. this is a direct result of how the school and parent handles the situation. i, too, wish we could have a society where these kinds of tests were not needed. i actually wish we didn't even need to have grades. oh....the perfect world!!!

thanks for your great input on this subject.

[Sneezykids]

mommy22
Look under the Charter school thread, I just posted about it.
In addition to the reasons I stated there, I think dd's day is too long, she starts at 8am out at 3:15. I also think, even though this school boasts it's excellent academics, they are way to paper heavy, i.e. dittos in the early grades esp. My dd has brought home worksheets her teacher printed off the interent. I could do that at home! I think kids need more hands on learning for early grades.
There are lots of things I like about the school! There are just more that I don't like or things I wish they did/had. Check out the charter thread.

[Christi]

Hi I just wanted to let you know that when I was in Kindergarden we took the Iowa tests of basic skills. I remember them being fun. We had dividers so the other kids couldn't see our answers and I liked that. Maybe I'm weird. That was 20 years ago.

We had to take them every year until I was a senior. However we were never pressured to preform on these tests. I don't think the district used them for funding. I know that other states that take them prep their students because they use them for funding. There is alot of pressure.

[bestjob]

Here is a question about the tests that I think would make a lot of difference to me about whether or not my child was writing them:

How long does it take for you to get the results?

For the tests that my daughter's classmates are writing this week, the results will be given out in 10 months. Yes, months! From what I can understand about kids and development, such long delays mean the results are invalid because the child has changed so much in such a short period of time.

What about where you live?

[Sneezykids]

I think they get them back by mid summer

[mommy22]

We just got our results yesterday, so it took about 7 weeks.

[mpeel]

They routinely give standardized tests on most grades here starting in K5, public and private schools. I will be keeping my children out during that week from now until I can HS again. I think any testing is ridiculous. Grading systems are so arbitrary. But, I won't get on my soapbox. I can't stand the idea of my children being schooled by anyone but me and DH anyway. But, alas, they will have to be for a while.

[BusyMommy]

That's the stupidest thing I've heard.

What happens if she's absent for it?

I'd certainly look up some facts re: how inappropriate this is and call the ad bldg. They need to hear from parents.