Is two weeks of MCAP testing really necessary?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I absolutely agree there’s too much testing.

And I hope they everyone who agrees will quit obsessing over how schools are “ranked” based on that testing.

I know! Schools are ranked by something as dumb as MCAP and some people even buy into it!

[Anonymous]

The amount of testing in public schools is controversial all over the country.

https://www.edweek.org/teaching-learning/what-tests-does-each-state-require

[Anonymous]

This article includes some ideas to shorten testing time:

https://www.americanprogress.org/article/future-testing-education-way-forward-state-standardized-tests/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the purpose of MCAPs? To get individual data on the progress of each kid? Or assess the effectiveness of the school’s teaching on a broader level?

Good questions. It cannot be the first one since the result is not known until 5 months later. How could this test benefit the students?

It doesn't. It is a report card for the school. However, it really is a mirror for the school's demographics. There was an article years ago about how schools could easily be ranked based on parental income level. Researchers ranked them and surprise, surprise. The results of the testing almost exactly fell along the lines of parental income. It isn't rocket science.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the purpose of MCAPs? To get individual data on the progress of each kid? Or assess the effectiveness of the school’s teaching on a broader level?

Good questions. It cannot be the first one since the result is not known until 5 months later. How could this test benefit the students?

It doesn't. It is a report card for the school. However, it really is a mirror for the school's demographics. There was an article years ago about how schools could easily be ranked based on parental income level. Researchers ranked them and surprise, surprise. The results of the testing almost exactly fell along the lines of parental income. It isn't rocket science.

Since race is often a proxy for HHI, honestly they could just do a heat map of HHI and do away with this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the purpose of MCAPs? To get individual data on the progress of each kid? Or assess the effectiveness of the school’s teaching on a broader level?

Good questions. It cannot be the first one since the result is not known until 5 months later. How could this test benefit the students?

It doesn't. It is a report card for the school. However, it really is a mirror for the school's demographics. There was an article years ago about how schools could easily be ranked based on parental income level. Researchers ranked them and surprise, surprise. The results of the testing almost exactly fell along the lines of parental income. It isn't rocket science.

Bingo! I've taught in wealthy schools and Title One schools...and guess what, my students' test scores reflected exactly where I was teaching. My first six years I had amazing test scores at an affluent school. Since moving to a Title One school, my test scores aren't nearly as high. I can assure you that I haven't lowered my expectations or become a worse teacher in that time. These scores are meaningless. I don't mind accountability and like others have posted, I do value that data I get from MAP three times each year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Add to the madness that elementary students will see geometry questions on the test (they are on the practice tests) and yet MCPS has removed the geometry units from the Eureka Curriculum. (In 4th grade, geometry is unit 4. This unit is not taught. Similar with 3rd and 5th grades.) MCPS says don’t teach it, and yet students will see geometry questions on MCAP.

I noticed they took the geometry curriculum out of the first grade math as well.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the purpose of MCAPs? To get individual data on the progress of each kid? Or assess the effectiveness of the school’s teaching on a broader level?

I wish they could simply use MAP and reduce the amount of testing. I mean even taking MAP-M/R 3 times per year seems excessive and I'm all for accountability.

My thoughts exactly. They all take map anyway, why can't that be the statewide assessment?

[Anonymous]

When I worked in Virginia the SOL testing took 3 weeks because the school was so huge and we could only test one grade at a time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What is the purpose of MCAPs? To get individual data on the progress of each kid? Or assess the effectiveness of the school’s teaching on a broader level?

I wish they could simply use MAP and reduce the amount of testing. I mean even taking MAP-M/R 3 times per year seems excessive and I'm all for accountability.

My thoughts exactly. They all take map anyway, why can't that be the statewide assessment?

This +10000. There is absolutely no need for additional state test beyond MAP. And MAP now has other test for Science and Social Studies. Stop the madness. I know no teacher or parent who doesn’t feel the same. Yes, we need an assessment, but it doesn’t need to be multiple times per year.

Talk to your representatives folks. This weeks of lost time to testing is madness that needs to cease.

[Anonymous]

Save your money and do private school

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Save your money and do private school

Again with the backdoor recruiting. Privates must be struggling to hit recruitment targets.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Save your money and do private school

Again with the backdoor recruiting. Privates must be struggling to hit recruitment targets.

Seriously, I guess private schools must have lost a lot of enrollment when schools reopened

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There is way too much testing. I work at a high school and if parents could just see the amount of time, effort and expense that goes into testing, they would be shocked. It affects everyone and we have two full time administrators who are unable to work on anything else but testing. They are highly competent people but they are super stressed out with testing and cannot help the school with anything else. Others including teachers get pulled in as well. If we could redirect these resources to improving teaching and learning, kids would be a lot better off.

I could have written this myself, but I teach in a middle school in MCPS. It's HORRIFYING. My DS is a risking K and I am so depressed thinking about what he is about to go through as he gets into elementary school.

NCLB is responsible for it, it didn't work, and we need to end it. Parents can OPT OUT. There's a big opt out movement in Massachusetts! Not sure why it hasn't caught on here.

[Anonymous]

I see MAP and MCAP mentioned a lot around here. When it comes to advance class placement, CES, magnets, etc, it's the MAP scores that are taken into consideration, right? MCAP is just for Maryland standardization? Or do MCAPs actually affect students' future options? I feel like the MAP tests rolled through under the radar, but the kids are all talking a lot about MCAP. Maybe it's because it's six days? This is 3rd grade, FWIW.