Can we opt out of the MSA?

[Anonymous]

PARCC test prototypes - http://www.parcconline.org/samples/item-task-prototypes

The PARCC LA high school assessments make our current English HSAs look like preschool activities. They are a graduation requirement.

Anonymous wrote:I don't know what I would do, I'm conflicted. I see a young friend who is super uptight at MSA time. She has had accidents at school one in a great while and they tell her you can't use the bathroom, you can't sharpen your pencil. So she worried, what if I need to go? What if I have an accident? What if I feel sick? I'm gleaning that they are a little scare-mongering for the sensitive kids to try to get good performance from a few. I don't know if it even works on the targets and instead they have other kids who take them literally.

On the other hand, a little practice at standardized tests is great. What I don't like is so much of the year seems to devoted to prep for the test to the exclusion of all else, so opting out doesn't fix that even if it would be a symbolic boycott. If this wasn't such an obsession I'd think sitting for the test was just fine.

I have heard from the MCPS teacher that the new test is very very difficult.

[Anonymous]

But PARCC is at least aligned with the Common Core, which is what Curriculum 2.0 was aligned with. MSA is not aligned with anything they're doing in the classroom.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:But PARCC is at least aligned with the Common Core, which is what Curriculum 2.0 was aligned with. MSA is not aligned with anything they're doing in the classroom.

not so

MSAs are aligned with these indicators - http://mdk12.org/assessments/vsc/index.html - which have been taught along the way.

HSAs are aligned with these indicators - http://mdk12.org/assessments/standards/9-12.html . . . also taught along the way.

These indicators will soon be replaced with Common Core across the board.

Now whether they were taught well or if they transferred over from classroom into MSA testing are other questions to examine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't know what I would do, I'm conflicted. I see a young friend who is super uptight at MSA time. She has had accidents at school one in a great while and they tell her you can't use the bathroom, you can't sharpen your pencil. So she worried, what if I need to go? What if I have an accident? What if I feel sick? I'm gleaning that they are a little scare-mongering for the sensitive kids to try to get good performance from a few. I don't know if it even works on the targets and instead they have other kids who take them literally.

On the other hand, a little practice at standardized tests is great. What I don't like is so much of the year seems to devoted to prep for the test to the exclusion of all else, so opting out doesn't fix that even if it would be a symbolic boycott. If this wasn't such an obsession I'd think sitting for the test was just fine.

I have heard from the MCPS teacher that the new test is very very difficult.

Critical and creative thinking are no longer encouraged. Spitting out drivel for these tests is all that matters anymore.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:FCPS and all of VA has been complaining about this with our SOLs for years. Welcome to the club, Maryland!

MSA's have been complained about for years too. These aren't new tests.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know what I would do, I'm conflicted. I see a young friend who is super uptight at MSA time. She has had accidents at school one in a great while and they tell her you can't use the bathroom, you can't sharpen your pencil. So she worried, what if I need to go? What if I have an accident? What if I feel sick? I'm gleaning that they are a little scare-mongering for the sensitive kids to try to get good performance from a few. I don't know if it even works on the targets and instead they have other kids who take them literally.

On the other hand, a little practice at standardized tests is great. What I don't like is so much of the year seems to devoted to prep for the test to the exclusion of all else, so opting out doesn't fix that even if it would be a symbolic boycott. If this wasn't such an obsession I'd think sitting for the test was just fine.

I have heard from the MCPS teacher that the new test is very very difficult.

Critical and creative thinking are no longer encouraged. Spitting out drivel for these tests is all that matters anymore.

I don't know that critical and creative thinking were ever encouraged. I do with that the tests included Social Studies -- I'd be happy if kids could even just spot out basic facts about, say, ancient history in 4th grade; or American history, or know something about geography and civics.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't know what I would do, I'm conflicted. I see a young friend who is super uptight at MSA time. She has had accidents at school one in a great while and they tell her you can't use the bathroom, you can't sharpen your pencil. So she worried, what if I need to go? What if I have an accident? What if I feel sick? I'm gleaning that they are a little scare-mongering for the sensitive kids to try to get good performance from a few. I don't know if it even works on the targets and instead they have other kids who take them literally.

On the other hand, a little practice at standardized tests is great. What I don't like is so much of the year seems to devoted to prep for the test to the exclusion of all else, so opting out doesn't fix that even if it would be a symbolic boycott. If this wasn't such an obsession I'd think sitting for the test was just fine.

I have heard from the MCPS teacher that the new test is very very difficult.

Critical and creative thinking are no longer encouraged. Spitting out drivel for these tests is all that matters anymore.

I don't know that critical and creative thinking were ever encouraged. I do with that the tests included Social Studies -- I'd be happy if kids could even just spot out basic facts about, say, ancient history in 4th grade; or American history, or know something about geography and civics.

They were when I was in school. K-12 I went to a total of six schools in four different states and every one encouraged it. Even in NYS where we had Regents exams at the end of the year.

[Anonymous]

Standardized test scores (like MSA) are now being used as part of teacher's annual job evaluations. Depending on which county you are in, the percentage may be higher or lower. The tests were never designed for this. This will continue when the MSA is retired for the PARCC Assessments (Common Core State Standards). All of this is tied to Race to the Top. MSA is two assessments over four days in reading and math with two days for science for students in 5th and 8th grades. The PARCC Assessments can be given twice per year. The end of the year assessments - reading, math, performance/research task - we don't know what they look like yet, but the standards don't seem to be developmentally appropriate for students in the elementary grades. If you think MSA is bad, just wait!

[Anonymous]

the standards don't seem to be developmentally appropriate for students in the elementary grades.

Please explain.

[Anonymous]

I had heard that with the new common core curriculum md was going to try to do away with the msa in the next couple of years. Our principal told us this. I have no idea if this is true or not.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I had heard that with the new common core curriculum md was going to try to do away with the msa in the next couple of years. Our principal told us this. I have no idea if this is true or not.

Move your eyes up the page and you will see that this was the last year for MSA...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:You cannot opt out. You can remove your child from school but it will have to be for the whole testing period -- which includes an extra week or so for makeups I believe.

Not true. I opted out of the MSA for my child. All I had to do was write a letter to the principal stating that I was refusing to permit my child to sit for the MSA. I had reasons (which I prefer not to discuss because they identify us). The school wanted my child to take the exam, but acknowleged at the end of our discussion that I could write a letter refusing to participate and they would not be able to test my child. If I just held my DC out of school as "sick", the school would have just gone ahead and tested DC upon DC's return. But, because I wrote the letter, the school couldn't test DC.

[Anonymous]

Why don't more people do this. I moved here from a stint in another country and I am shocked at how little protest I see from parents who all say they hate NCLB. Why not refuse to let your child participate?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:You cannot opt out. You can remove your child from school but it will have to be for the whole testing period -- which includes an extra week or so for makeups I believe.

Not true. I opted out of the MSA for my child. All I had to do was write a letter to the principal stating that I was refusing to permit my child to sit for the MSA. I had reasons (which I prefer not to discuss because they identify us). The school wanted my child to take the exam, but acknowleged at the end of our discussion that I could write a letter refusing to participate and they would not be able to test my child. If I just held my DC out of school as "sick", the school would have just gone ahead and tested DC upon DC's return. But, because I wrote the letter, the school couldn't test DC.

I believe your principal just didn't feel like fighting it.

Legally, your child could have been required to take the test. Parental permission is not required.

Tactically, it probably wasn't worth the fight.

[Anonymous]

PP again.

If you decide you want to pursue opting out, though, you should look into this organization that is trying to help people do that:

http://unitedoptout.com/aclu-family-complaint-urgent-read-now/