Anonymous wrote:First please find a Title 1 schools where test scores have improved significantly -- I'm not sure there are any.

And with the change from DC CAS to PARCC, it's very tough to go back in time to compare.

L-T had certainly improved under the old system. Massively. Lots of folks think the scores were misleading, but they outperformed Brent and Maury one year. L-T is still Title I now.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spinning off a comment in another thread, what are some things parents/pta can do to help the school improve test scores? And how exactly does one go about doing them? I have heard mentions of hiring an extra aide or tutor-- can anyone walk me through the logistics there? Thanks.

Our school did not have an afterschool tutoring program (may have had in past, but not at this point). A parent helped bring one in with funding from the PTA. Still waiting to hear if the first year made a dent in test scores.

Can school get any more unbearable? These kids are studying for tests during the day and now during after school? After an 8 hour day, I think the best thing for kids is to unwind and do something fun. All this test prep is really sucking the enjoyment of school and probably having the opposite effect on low-income kids by making them HATE school if they don't hate it already.

I don't think tutors = unbearable school. A lot of affluent kids go home and get homework help from family members or private tutors. A lot of students are actually happy to receive small group attention; school is a lot more bearable when you are able to keep up.

It doesn't have to be unbearable. it might be nice to have personalized attention, getting to choose a book to read on a topic of interest, not having to wait to ask questions. if the afterschool program already has a homework component, an additional aide doesn't lengthen the day, it just provides more attention per student.

I send my high-achieving child there - though she is not testing age yet, I'm reasonably sure that her reading and math proficiency will help raise the scores. I also tutor several older children in reading once or twice a week, depending on my and their schedules. As far as I can tell, this isn't "unbearable" so much as hanging out together reading books and articles and then talking about them.

Test scores are not a 'problem' parents or a PTA can solve.

In every part of the US, as well as in DC, test scores track SES and race.

DCPS schools with higher SES levels and more white students do better on on average on the standardized tests that are given today.

No different than in Montgomery County, Fairfax, Alexandria.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spinning off a comment in another thread, what are some things parents/pta can do to help the school improve test scores? And how exactly does one go about doing them? I have heard mentions of hiring an extra aide or tutor-- can anyone walk me through the logistics there? Thanks.

Our school did not have an afterschool tutoring program (may have had in past, but not at this point). A parent helped bring one in with funding from the PTA. Still waiting to hear if the first year made a dent in test scores.

Can school get any more unbearable? These kids are studying for tests during the day and now during after school? After an 8 hour day, I think the best thing for kids is to unwind and do something fun. All this test prep is really sucking the enjoyment of school and probably having the opposite effect on low-income kids by making them HATE school if they don't hate it already.

I don't think tutors = unbearable school. A lot of affluent kids go home and get homework help from family members or private tutors. A lot of students are actually happy to receive small group attention; school is a lot more bearable when you are able to keep up.

Anonymous wrote:What is a behavioral tech?

An aide who helps/intervenes with students with behavior issues. Often on playground and lunch periods when teachers are not there, or they can push in and assist a teacher in a classroom.

I can't think of a thing we do to directly raise scores. In fact, I didn't think of that way at all. Our efforts are really focused on enrichment and extras. We pay for kids to go to spelling bees, add robotics, and things like that.

What is a behavioral tech?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Spinning off a comment in another thread, what are some things parents/pta can do to help the school improve test scores? And how exactly does one go about doing them? I have heard mentions of hiring an extra aide or tutor-- can anyone walk me through the logistics there? Thanks.

Our school did not have an afterschool tutoring program (may have had in past, but not at this point). A parent helped bring one in with funding from the PTA. Still waiting to hear if the first year made a dent in test scores.

Can school get any more unbearable? These kids are studying for tests during the day and now during after school? After an 8 hour day, I think the best thing for kids is to unwind and do something fun. All this test prep is really sucking the enjoyment of school and probably having the opposite effect on low-income kids by making them HATE school if they don't hate it already.

Honestly, nothing. Well, my own kids test well so I guess I do my part my allowing them to remain at that school. But, honestly? I don't want to lose the Title I distinction. Our class sizes are so much more palatable than the affluent school nearby. We receive grants for technology and arts that other schools don't receive. Our community puts more volunteers in our school due to its overall need.

Why would I be in a rush to give up all that?

I would never do anything to "improve test scores." I think the focus on test scores is harmful. I would do things to improve the learning experience in general, like fundraising for aides, a behavioral tech if needed, enrichment, and push for adequate outdoor time.

Let me put it this way: what have people done in an attempt to improve test scores? and has it worked by any metric, perhaps internal classroom evaluations?

Anonymous wrote:Spinning off a comment in another thread, what are some things parents/pta can do to help the school improve test scores? And how exactly does one go about doing them? I have heard mentions of hiring an extra aide or tutor-- can anyone walk me through the logistics there? Thanks.

Our school did not have an afterschool tutoring program (may have had in past, but not at this point). A parent helped bring one in with funding from the PTA. Still waiting to hear if the first year made a dent in test scores.

First please find a Title 1 schools where test scores have improved significantly -- I'm not sure there are any.

And with the change from DC CAS to PARCC, it's very tough to go back in time to compare.

Spinning off a comment in another thread, what are some things parents/pta can do to help the school improve test scores? And how exactly does one go about doing them? I have heard mentions of hiring an extra aide or tutor-- can anyone walk me through the logistics there? Thanks.