How do parents feel about PIA test?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why do they have to bring their own pencils?

LOL

[Anonymous]

I really object to the instructions that kids should be sure to have a good night sleep and good breakfast in preparation for "Testing Days". Far more important, in my view, is for kids to have a good night sleep and good breakfast in preparation for "Learning Days" (ie, non-testing days). Let them have slumber parties before testing days and save their energy and focus for days when they go to school to learn!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:This is my son's first year taking the tests (he's in 2nd grade). I'm pretty certain DC is doing this just to see how students will do on the DC-CAS, not because they want to adjust learning/reteach, etc. after the test is taken because teachers have to move on to the next standards in the the scope and sequence. (Maybe a little to get students to get used to testing as well, but that's about it.)

Also some of the questions seem pretty strange and poorly developed looking at the response sheets I've received after each test.

Gone are the days when kids just took a test in May and called it a day.

The 2nd graders take the test so the there is a baseline for evaluation of 3rd grade teachers. The main reason is to implement the teacher evaluation system that Rhee put in place.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I really object to the instructions that kids should be sure to have a good night sleep and good breakfast in preparation for "Testing Days". Far more important, in my view, is for kids to have a good night sleep and good breakfast in preparation for "Learning Days" (ie, non-testing days). Let them have slumber parties before testing days and save their energy and focus for days when they go to school to learn!

So glad there will be less testing next year. But that might mean - gasp - a consistent homework schedule. Oh the horror!

[Anonymous]

I have had teachers use it to show me where my daughter needed help in math which we then took to a tutor. Tests are valuable if they reflect what you need to know and actually give you that data. From what I can tell from a few non scientific, random conversations with teachers, these tests are more useful than what was used in the past.