Achievement testing time! What does YOUR kids' school use?

[Deb in IA]

Over the last couple of weeks, the schools here have been doing their yearly testing.

Here in Iowa, we use the ITBS - the Iowa Test of Basic Skills. In high school, it is the Iowa Test of Educational Development, or the ITED. (We like to call that one the Iowa Test of Endless Dots )

But I remember the California Test of Achievement, or the CAT, when I was in school.

And I'm sure there are others.

So, what tests did you take, or are your children taking?

 

[CathrynRose]

When I was in school in Illinois, we also took the Iowa's.

My kids now take the 'ISAT's'

I think it's Illinois Standard Achievment Tests, or something?

 

[MI mom of 3]

Here in Michigan we are in the midst of the MEAP. It is the Michigan Educational Assessment Program. What it actually is...is a pain in the rump!!

 

[Deb in IA]

Yes, it is!

But with No Child Left Behind, the schools are really emphasizing these tests more, and making sure everyone takes them.

 

[Kitty 34]

Michigan is MEAPing right now as we call it! I'm one of the proctors for it. Many many rules and regulations to follow!!!

 

[Cindy B]

NJ does NJASK (elementary) and NJPASS (middle school) in March. The high school NCLB test (HSPA) is going to be administered fairly soon.. I want to say November.

 

[golfgal]

um, I, um, well, I can't remember what in the heck they are called and we just got last year's results in the mail yesterday--Minnesota something or other for elementary and middle school, GRAD for high schoolers though.

 

[mickeyboat]

Ours is called NECAP - I think it is New England something or other. The kids start taking it in 3rd grade.

Denae

 

[diznygirl]

FCAT here. DS will have to take it in 3rd grade, so no worries yet.

 

[mrsv98]

Il kids take the ISATs in March in 3rd, 5th and 7th grade. Then in HS, they take the Prairie State Exam tho I am not sure what year. Add that to the PSATs, the SATs, and the ACTs it gets a little nuts!

 

[Anne34]

When I was in school in Illinois, we also took the Iowa's.

My kids now take the 'ISAT's'

I think it's Illinois Standard Achievment Tests, or something?

In Illinois we take the Iowa's and the Isats both. One is in fall and the other is in spring. I started working as an aide a couple years ago and am amazed at all the testing they do.

 

[chris1gill]

Ours is called NECAP - I think it is New England something or other. The kids start taking it in 3rd grade.

Denae

What Denae said, they started this week.... so far so good... the 4th grader is sleeping through it, the 7th grader is having to slightly think.... I guess they should both be professional test takers It's a family joke....

 

[nuke]

When I was in grammar school we took the Iowa Basics. My child takes the Terra Nova tests now.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Texas here, we take the TAKS, Texas Assessment of Knowledge and Skills.

11yodd is in 5th grade and will take the reading, math, & science TAKS.

16yodd is a JR and HAS TO PASS her TAKS in order to graduate from high school. The tests are reading, writing, math, social studies, & science. She is suppose to pass all of them this year, however they have until before graduation to pass.

However we are moving to Missouri, so no worries there.

They don't HAVE TO pass any tests except for Missouri Constitution & US Constitution Tests.
She is a history nut so that will be easy for her. I hope.

 

[KelNottAt]

Maryland gives the MSA (Maryland School Assessment) in elementary and middle. Then all high schoolers must pass the HSAs (High School Assessments) in Gov't, Bio, Alg I, and Eng II in order to graduate.

Other tests are the Terra Nova and the Stanford 10-Norm Based (or something like that).

 

[maelstrom]

I recall taking the Terra Nova "tests" along with a myriad of other useless and time-consuming "tests" when in elementary school. In high school we had the New York State Regents exams. When I was in school you were not required to get a Regents diploma, but you are now. But instead of holding every student to a higher standard, they just lowered the passing grade. And Regents exams just aren't for everyone. If you don't plan on going to college, and you plan to attend a vocational school or just get a job, there's no reason to get a Regents diploma. It's a lot of unnecessary work that some people just aren't going to be able to do. It isn't a matter of intelligence, either. And since Regents are just a New York (and I think California) thing, most colleges don't care one bit about whether you passed the Regents or not.

I took the "Math A" Regents three times, and scored a 17, 63, and 42, respectively. I would've needed a 65 to pass. I wasn't required to get a Regents diploma, so it didn't really matter. And I ended up leaving public school to homeschool anyhow. But it scares me to know that there are kids out there in New York state who won't graduate high school because they can't pass the Math A Regents exam. There's even an art Regents now! I did alright on my earth science, biology, and global studies Regents. The funny thing is that the English Regents doesn't happen until 11th grade. My 9th grade English teacher gave our class the previous year's 11th grade Regents as our final for some reason. I scored a 98, two years before I was due to take it.

I took the SAT twice, in 7th and 8th grades, as part of the Johns Hopkins program. We won't even talk about my scores and how I don't believe that anything can be learned about my intelligence or path in life because I don't know what owl:___ as kitten:rhinocerous.

Standardized/achievement tests are, in my opinion, a useless, unnecessary, time-consuming waste. Instead of spending endless weeks of classtime doing practice tests of this nonsense, why don't we teach our kids how to read and how to function in the real world. And I don't blame the teachers; I understand that they're just doing what their state/district/curriculum requires them to do. I know that many teachers are against standardized testing as well.

 

[SandiH]

Our state test is the WASL. Washington Assessment of Student Learning. Every grade from 3-8th grade as well as 10th graders take the test in the spring. Passing the 10th grade WASL is a graduation requirement.