refusing standardized testing

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Depending upon the schools, the HSAs are not benign. I work with students who can't pass the test and who are - sadly - relying upon the bridge projects to graduate. So don't make that assumption. Perhaps if you're in a high-flying cluster, that's the case. But it's not the norm.

Furthermore, after this year, the NSL test and bridge projects are gone b/c of budget cuts. Also, AP tests are usually given in grade 11, which is the year after most students take the HSAs. So, by then, most have already taken the HSA in grade 10. Of course, there are schools giving AP Government and Politics: US in grade 10, but this course doesn't contain questions that mirror the HSA NSL test, by the way. So they're not "equal" in terms of content.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you do make the switch to public and boycott the MSA, the HSAs in high school (similar format) are a graduation requirement.

At the high school, those scores count toward schools' AYP and toward an individual student's graduation - assuming, of course, that the student has made the cut off score.

The HSAs seem pretty benign. There are only 4 and it may drop to 3. If you get a 3 or higher on the AP government test you don't need to take the NSL HSA. Most kids in our cluster take the math one in middle school when they take Alg 1. So that just leaves biology at the end of 9th grade and English at the end of 10th grade.

Just wait until your kids start doing SAT prep - that takes hours and hours and multiple practice tests. Makes MSAs and HSAs look like a walk in the park.

Yes, we are in what would be described as a high flying cluster. My DC is taking AP gov in 9th grade and will take the AP test at the end of this year so likely will not need to take the HSA for NSL. That only leaves two - one this year and one next year. While I know there are some kids who struggle with the HSAs - even in our cluster, the point I was trying to make is that 2-3 HSAs over the course of 4 years does not strike me as too onerous or result in that much teaching to the test.

[Anonymous]

again - for YOUR child in your cluster

Not all children are as lucky as yours. So while your child may be doing exceptionally well, it's b/c he has certain advantages over those labeled FARMs. Don't take a blanket approach to solving our educational problems.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Depending upon the schools, the HSAs are not benign. I work with students who can't pass the test and who are - sadly - relying upon the bridge projects to graduate. So don't make that assumption. Perhaps if you're in a high-flying cluster, that's the case. But it's not the norm.

Furthermore, after this year, the NSL test and bridge projects are gone b/c of budget cuts. Also, AP tests are usually given in grade 11, which is the year after most students take the HSAs. So, by then, most have already taken the HSA in grade 10. Of course, there are schools giving AP Government and Politics: US in grade 10, but this course doesn't contain questions that mirror the HSA NSL test, by the way. So they're not "equal" in terms of content.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you do make the switch to public and boycott the MSA, the HSAs in high school (similar format) are a graduation requirement.

At the high school, those scores count toward schools' AYP and toward an individual student's graduation - assuming, of course, that the student has made the cut off score.

The HSAs seem pretty benign. There are only 4 and it may drop to 3. If you get a 3 or higher on the AP government test you don't need to take the NSL HSA. Most kids in our cluster take the math one in middle school when they take Alg 1. So that just leaves biology at the end of 9th grade and English at the end of 10th grade.

Just wait until your kids start doing SAT prep - that takes hours and hours and multiple practice tests. Makes MSAs and HSAs look like a walk in the park.

Yes, we are in what would be described as a high flying cluster. My DC is taking AP gov in 9th grade and will take the AP test at the end of this year so likely will not need to take the HSA for NSL. That only leaves two - one this year and one next year. While I know there are some kids who struggle with the HSAs - even in our cluster, the point I was trying to make is that 2-3 HSAs over the course of 4 years does not strike me as too onerous or result in that much teaching to the test.