Opting out of PARCC testing in DC?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And the 12 states that have opted out? all right wing idiots as well I suppose.

No, those would be the left wing idiots. The right wing at least understands how to pay the bills.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:From: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2014/04/23/parent-to-obama-let-me-tell-you-about-the-common-core-test-malia-and-sasha-dont-have-to-take-but-eva-does/

"I have a Ph.D. in English, I’ve been in college and high school classrooms for over 20 years, and for much of that time I’ve trained and coached high school English teachers. I was shocked that the ninth grade test included an excerpt from Bleak House, a Dickens novel that is usually taught in college. I got seven out of 36 multiple choice questions wrong on the eleventh grade test. And I had no idea what to do with this essay prompt on the third grade test:

Old Mother West Wind and the Sandwitch both try to teach important lessons to characters in the stories. Write an essay that explains how Old Mother West Wind’s and the Sandwitch’s words and actions are important to the plots of the stories. Use what you learned about the characters to support your essay.

Would Sasha have been able to figure this out in third grade? And, more importantly, is there any reason a third grader should have to figure out an essay prompt this broad and abstract?"

---

"So here’s one essay prompt:

You have learned about electricity by reading two articles, “Energy Story” and “Conducting Solutions,” and viewing a video clip titled “Hands-On Science with Squishy Circuits.” In an essay, compare the purpose of the three sources. Then analyze how each source uses explanations, demonstrations, or descriptions of experiments to help accomplish its purpose. Be sure to discuss important differences and similarities between the information gained from the video and the information provided in the articles. Support your response with evidence from each source.

Eva’s comment on this question: “It’s impossible, and there’s like 15 parts.” Just as I feared, she exaggerated. There are only four parts. But take a close look at those parts. Can you figure out what you’re supposed to be doing here, President Obama? And could you have done it in seventh grade?"

How are these essays going to be graded and evaluated?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:And the 12 states that have opted out? all right wing idiots as well I suppose.

Yup. Like the right wing idiots in NEW JERSEY instructing parents on how to opt out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2014/04/23/parent-to-obama-let-me-tell-you-about-the-common-core-test-malia-and-sasha-dont-have-to-take-but-eva-does/

"I have a Ph.D. in English, I’ve been in college and high school classrooms for over 20 years, and for much of that time I’ve trained and coached high school English teachers. I was shocked that the ninth grade test included an excerpt from Bleak House, a Dickens novel that is usually taught in college. I got seven out of 36 multiple choice questions wrong on the eleventh grade test. And I had no idea what to do with this essay prompt on the third grade test:

Old Mother West Wind and the Sandwitch both try to teach important lessons to characters in the stories. Write an essay that explains how Old Mother West Wind’s and the Sandwitch’s words and actions are important to the plots of the stories. Use what you learned about the characters to support your essay.

Would Sasha have been able to figure this out in third grade? And, more importantly, is there any reason a third grader should have to figure out an essay prompt this broad and abstract?"

---

"So here’s one essay prompt:

You have learned about electricity by reading two articles, “Energy Story” and “Conducting Solutions,” and viewing a video clip titled “Hands-On Science with Squishy Circuits.” In an essay, compare the purpose of the three sources. Then analyze how each source uses explanations, demonstrations, or descriptions of experiments to help accomplish its purpose. Be sure to discuss important differences and similarities between the information gained from the video and the information provided in the articles. Support your response with evidence from each source.

Eva’s comment on this question: “It’s impossible, and there’s like 15 parts.” Just as I feared, she exaggerated. There are only four parts. But take a close look at those parts. Can you figure out what you’re supposed to be doing here, President Obama? And could you have done it in seventh grade?"

How are these essays going to be graded and evaluated?

No idea, unfortunately. As vague as these are, the web interface is almost worse. I can only imagine a 3rd grader sitting down in front of this thing... seems crazy to me.

[Anonymous]

Not sure if anyone else has had success with OSSE, but I can't seem to have a call returned...

[Anonymous]

FYI... Saw this on the OSSE website...

"(NEW) Join us for the OSSE Parent and Community Conversations to learn about the new DC Assessments (PARCC, DC Science) and other important education topics:

- Thursday, February 12, 2015, 6:30pm - 8pm, Location: School Without Walls @ Francis Stevens (School Auditorium), 2425 N Street, NW (Co-Hosted by SBOE Member Jack Jacobson, WARD 2)
- Tuesday, February 17, 2015, 6pm - 8pm, Location: Friendship Collegiate Academy (School Auditorium), 4095 Minnesota Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20019
- Wednesday, February 18, 2015, 6pm - 8pm, Location: Friendship Southeast Elementary Academy (School Gym), 645 Milwaukee Place SE, Washington, DC 20032
- Thursday, February 19, 2015, 6pm - 8pm, Location: Friendship Woodridge Elementary and Middle (School Gym), 2959 Carlton Avenue NE, Washington, DC 20018
- Saturday, February 21, 2015, 10am, Location: TBD (Co-Hosted by SBOE Member Joe Weedon, WARD 6)
- Tuesday, February 24, 2015, 6pm - 8pm, Location: Capital City Public Charter School, 100 Peabody Street, NW, Washington, DC 20011
- Wednesday, February 25, 2015, 6pm - 8pm, Location: Paul Public Charter School (School Auditorium), 5800 8th Street NW, Washington, DC 20011
- Thursday, February 26, 2015, 6pm - 8pm, Location: Bruce-Monroe Elementary School @ Park View, 3560 Warder Street NW, Washington, DC 20010
- Saturday, February 28, 2015, 10am - 11:30am, Location: Next Steps Public Charter School, 3047 15th Street NW, Washington, DC 20009 (Co-Hosted by SBOE Member Laura Wilson Phelan, WARD 1)
- Saturday, March 7, 2015, 10am, Location: TBD (Co-Hosted by SBOE Member Tierra Jolly, Ward 8)"

http://osse.dc.gov/service/dc-state-assessments-new

[Anonymous]

I found the following post from someone who opted out of the DC-CAS on a thread from a couple of years ago...

*We opted out for 3rd & 4th and will opt out for 5th (and weren't alone in doing so). What you do is make calls to sr. people at the DCPS Office of Data & Accountability, and send your principal a letter, stating your intention to opt out. Do this a couple months before test dates if you want to stay on terra firma with DCPS.

*Be prepared to keep your DC home for the testing days, or bring them to school for 15 minutes at the beginning of the day and take them home - schools won't want to deal with him/her during test time.

*Ignore any DCPS official who gives you a guilt trip and/or threatens to keep your kid back a grade if they don't take the test - they don't have the right. Schools WOTP are used to having a few parents opt out, probably not the case where AYP is more of an issue. In Upper NW, with so many kids at, or heading to privates, the culture of rejecting standardized testing is strong. We're in the habit of planning family vacations for testing period. Just make sure you that your DC hasn't missed much school beforehand and it all works out.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What do you think opting out will accomplish? What does it serve?

It means my kid doesn't have to suffer the stress of test that is used to fire teachers, fire principals, encourage cheating by administrators, or to pay them bonuses.

What does my kid get out of the tests? Nothing in the aforementioned list.

High stakes annual testing from 2nd grade on up is madness.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2014/04/23/parent-to-obama-let-me-tell-you-about-the-common-core-test-malia-and-sasha-dont-have-to-take-but-eva-does/

"I have a Ph.D. in English, I’ve been in college and high school classrooms for over 20 years, and for much of that time I’ve trained and coached high school English teachers. I was shocked that the ninth grade test included an excerpt from Bleak House, a Dickens novel that is usually taught in college. I got seven out of 36 multiple choice questions wrong on the eleventh grade test. And I had no idea what to do with this essay prompt on the third grade test:

Old Mother West Wind and the Sandwitch both try to teach important lessons to characters in the stories. Write an essay that explains how Old Mother West Wind’s and the Sandwitch’s words and actions are important to the plots of the stories. Use what you learned about the characters to support your essay.

Would Sasha have been able to figure this out in third grade? And, more importantly, is there any reason a third grader should have to figure out an essay prompt this broad and abstract?"

---

"So here’s one essay prompt:

You have learned about electricity by reading two articles, “Energy Story” and “Conducting Solutions,” and viewing a video clip titled “Hands-On Science with Squishy Circuits.” In an essay, compare the purpose of the three sources. Then analyze how each source uses explanations, demonstrations, or descriptions of experiments to help accomplish its purpose. Be sure to discuss important differences and similarities between the information gained from the video and the information provided in the articles. Support your response with evidence from each source.

Eva’s comment on this question: “It’s impossible, and there’s like 15 parts.” Just as I feared, she exaggerated. There are only four parts. But take a close look at those parts. Can you figure out what you’re supposed to be doing here, President Obama? And could you have done it in seventh grade?"

How are these essays going to be graded and evaluated?

No idea, unfortunately. As vague as these are, the web interface is almost worse. I can only imagine a 3rd grader sitting down in front of this thing... seems crazy to me.

...and don't forget, on the PARCC, that 3rd grade has to type her answer on a computer keyboard.

How well does your average 3rd grader compose at the keyboard?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:From: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2014/04/23/parent-to-obama-let-me-tell-you-about-the-common-core-test-malia-and-sasha-dont-have-to-take-but-eva-does/

"I have a Ph.D. in English, I’ve been in college and high school classrooms for over 20 years, and for much of that time I’ve trained and coached high school English teachers. I was shocked that the ninth grade test included an excerpt from Bleak House, a Dickens novel that is usually taught in college. I got seven out of 36 multiple choice questions wrong on the eleventh grade test. And I had no idea what to do with this essay prompt on the third grade test:

Old Mother West Wind and the Sandwitch both try to teach important lessons to characters in the stories. Write an essay that explains how Old Mother West Wind’s and the Sandwitch’s words and actions are important to the plots of the stories. Use what you learned about the characters to support your essay.

Would Sasha have been able to figure this out in third grade? And, more importantly, is there any reason a third grader should have to figure out an essay prompt this broad and abstract?"

---

"So here’s one essay prompt:

You have learned about electricity by reading two articles, “Energy Story” and “Conducting Solutions,” and viewing a video clip titled “Hands-On Science with Squishy Circuits.” In an essay, compare the purpose of the three sources. Then analyze how each source uses explanations, demonstrations, or descriptions of experiments to help accomplish its purpose. Be sure to discuss important differences and similarities between the information gained from the video and the information provided in the articles. Support your response with evidence from each source.

Eva’s comment on this question: “It’s impossible, and there’s like 15 parts.” Just as I feared, she exaggerated. There are only four parts. But take a close look at those parts. Can you figure out what you’re supposed to be doing here, President Obama? And could you have done it in seventh grade?"

How are these essays going to be graded and evaluated?

No idea, unfortunately. As vague as these are, the web interface is almost worse. I can only imagine a 3rd grader sitting down in front of this thing... seems crazy to me.

...and don't forget, on the PARCC, that 3rd grade has to type her answer on a computer keyboard.

How well does your average 3rd grader compose at the keyboard?

That's right... a 3rd grader typing out his/her responses... to a vague question... on a timed test. Seems wildly off to me. Just keeps making me think: "What GENIUSES came up with all of this?!"

[Anonymous]

Anyone ever get an answer on how to opt out?

[Anonymous]

bump

[Anonymous]

If you are so interested, call!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:What do you think opting out will accomplish? What does it serve?

It means my kid doesn't have to suffer the stress of test that is used to fire teachers, fire principals, encourage cheating by administrators, or to pay them bonuses.

What does my kid get out of the tests? Nothing in the aforementioned list.

High stakes annual testing from 2nd grade on up is madness.

You evidently must think your kid won't do well. Otherwise, why pull out, if not to try and keep aggregate scores from the remainder of students up? If your kid were able to rock the exam, you would be better suited having your kid take it to help protect his teachers by keeping scores high.

[Anonymous]

It is absolute insanity that children are made to feel/put in the position to have to "protect their teachers" with high scores on an assessment. Can you not see how wrong that is? Opting out is making a statement. Passive resistance does not equal an absence of pain. I have a sense that teachers would urge parents to opt out if they could to dismantle the insane system. If only they could do so anonymously. Any teachers out there want to weigh in?