MCPS policy on not returning quizzes, tests and exams to students

[Anonymous]

How long has this been the policy? We're new to MCPS and this is the strangest thing most backward policy. Is this a new thing here?

[Anonymous]

Not new. And it's only the county wide assessments that don't get returned to you. The re-takable assessments are usually returned.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not new. And it's only the county wide assessments that don't get returned to you. The re-takable assessments are usually returned.

What are the "county wide assessments"? Is that most of the tests? Or is it just one test/year or something?

[Anonymous]

Are you talking about class tests or standards assessment tests? Class tests policy is probably teacher specific. For standards, I think most are supposed to be mailed to the parents. I've certainly received several of DC's test scores in the mail.

[Anonymous]

What are the "county wide assessments"? Is that most of the tests? Or is it just one test/year or something

I'm not sure all of what are county wide, but the summatives are typically county wide and you can't get copies. That being said, I've never had a problem getting teachers to meet with me to talk about my kids' difficulties.

[Anonymous]

Not just end of year county assessments. Class tests, quizzes, mid term exams and in-class writing assignments. Its ridiculous.

I've seen it in elementary school for my younger child now too. DD received an ES in one writing section and an I in another writing section on the report card. I have never seen anything other than a P on anything that comes home. When I asked the teacher she said the in class work is different than what is sent home and I could come in to see it. The assignments were very different from anything we had seen. She said it was MCPS policy for graded work to be kept at the school until the grade cards were submitted. I had to make a special request for her to send the writing work home at the end of the year. She normally just throws them in the trash the next year. Oh and she never mentioned any of this at the parent teacher conferences, or back to school night earlier in the year. MCPS sucks.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Are you talking about class tests or standards assessment tests? Class tests policy is probably teacher specific. For standards, I think most are supposed to be mailed to the parents. I've certainly received several of DC's test scores in the mail.

Just scores? Not actual tests?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you talking about class tests or standards assessment tests? Class tests policy is probably teacher specific. For standards, I think most are supposed to be mailed to the parents. I've certainly received several of DC's test scores in the mail.

Just scores? Not actual tests?

Not PP, but it's just scores, not actual tests.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not just end of year county assessments. Class tests, quizzes, mid term exams and in-class writing assignments. Its ridiculous.

I've seen it in elementary school for my younger child now too. DD received an ES in one writing section and an I in another writing section on the report card. I have never seen anything other than a P on anything that comes home. When I asked the teacher she said the in class work is different than what is sent home and I could come in to see it. The assignments were very different from anything we had seen. She said it was MCPS policy for graded work to be kept at the school until the grade cards were submitted. I had to make a special request for her to send the writing work home at the end of the year. She normally just throws them in the trash the next year. Oh and she never mentioned any of this at the parent teacher conferences, or back to school night earlier in the year. MCPS sucks.

That's awful. Can you say which school? I'm hoping this isn't the case at all schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

What are the "county wide assessments"? Is that most of the tests? Or is it just one test/year or something

I'm not sure all of what are county wide, but the summatives are typically county wide and you can't get copies. That being said, I've never had a problem getting teachers to meet with me to talk about my kids' difficulties.

This seems truly bizarre. What's their excuse for this?
Why should I have to make an appointment to see my kid's test?

[Anonymous]

Its across the board in the middle schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Are you talking about class tests or standards assessment tests? Class tests policy is probably teacher specific. For standards, I think most are supposed to be mailed to the parents. I've certainly received several of DC's test scores in the mail.

Just scores? Not actual tests?

A lot of the assessment tests are taken online, and no you don't get them back. I don't ever remember getting my SAT tests back, only the test scores.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Not just end of year county assessments. Class tests, quizzes, mid term exams and in-class writing assignments. Its ridiculous.

I've seen it in elementary school for my younger child now too. DD received an ES in one writing section and an I in another writing section on the report card. I have never seen anything other than a P on anything that comes home. When I asked the teacher she said the in class work is different than what is sent home and I could come in to see it. The assignments were very different from anything we had seen. She said it was MCPS policy for graded work to be kept at the school until the grade cards were submitted.[b] I had to make a special request for her to send the writing work home at the end of the year. She normally just throws them in the trash the next year. Oh and she never mentioned any of this at the parent teacher conferences, or back to school night earlier in the year. MCPS sucks.

It's not. I know this because my kid brings home graded work.

[Anonymous]

This was the main reason we left for private (although my youngest is in public K)

It truly is as ass-backwards as you can get. No tests returned home because of policy. Quizzes, assignments, projects, and papers had ZERO (and I do mean zero) comments, suggestions, where to improve etc..

I as a working mom would have to take off of work early to go to the school to actual see the tests in a whopping 5-10min conference. Only way they will let you see them. Most of the time the teachers seemed annoyed I was wasting their time. Like why should I care what they got wrong? I already saw the score. SO frustrating! They will not let you copy any problems down for you to go over at home with your child. Once the test is done, the move onto the next item no matter how bad everyone did on it. It was really just an awful system. No parent I knew was okay with it but just shrugged it off as policy.

In my kids new school, we receive every test, quiz, project, grade home and MUST sign and return within 48hrs or another point off the test. There are comments written, sentences circled with positive comments. Errors shown and explained. Paragraph at the end saying what they like, room for improvement. For math tests, every problem the child gets wrong, they must redo and submit within 48hrs. If they do, they add a few % back to the test. If they don't, they lose 2%. It just reinforces, show accountability, teaches and not memorizes. It has made such a difference in their work and study habits and attitude.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

What are the "county wide assessments"? Is that most of the tests? Or is it just one test/year or something

I'm not sure all of what are county wide, but the summatives are typically county wide and you can't get copies. That being said, I've never had a problem getting teachers to meet with me to talk about my kids' difficulties.

This seems truly bizarre. What's their excuse for this?
Why should I have to make an appointment to see my kid's test?

Because the school/teacher would like to know what time to expect you.