Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are sample questions embedded into the testing sessions. Please don't buy practice books for your kids; the test is supposed to measure ability, not learned achievement.

So many people doing it, you are at a disadvantage if you don’t. It’s just the truth.

I am not disputing this but just one lone voice out in the world saying we did zero prep with either of our kids. My one kid did well but not a super high score. My other kid got a really high score. Based on what I know about them, the test did it's job and placed them where they should be and reflected their ability. It didn't cross my mind to do prep.

We knew our kids were probably borderline but wanted to nudge them over the edge. You can't prove the negative but they are now doing great and it was a minimal time/money investment from us. I don't see any harm.

The harm is that these tests than become about who has resources and knowledge to prep their kids for them and is why in more diverse schools, the white kids end up tagged gifted and the non-white kids less so. Look at any school or school systems stats. It's a known issue. It does do pretty large harm in the aggregate.

If the test is that easy to prep kids for, then the schools should either switch tests or do some prep in school so everyone benefits from the prep. If the school isn't doing that then that is a systemic problem and you as a parent have to do what is best for your kid. Just like I give my kids extra math work for reinforcement since they don't get math homework. That also disadvantages lower-income kids whose parents don't have the resources to do this. And so while the school got rid of homework in the name of equity, likely doing that just made equity issues worse.

Except schools did not actually get rid of homework in the name of equity. There hasn't been homework in many elementary schools for years even before the current era of all equity all the time because giving homework to kids that age is not evidence-based. I do understand it makes Type A people feel better. Oh and there is still homework in middle school and high school.

My kids are in an APS middle school that does not have homework and has implied it is because of equity. It is a rough transition from no homework in 8th grade to lots of homework in high school for a lot of kids. I don't know where you are getting your info on homework in middle school but it is not consistent with my kids' experience. I agree that no homework in elementary makes sense. But for kids learning algebra and geometry in middle school, I think it is nuts.

I have a child at Swanson and he definitely has homework. This includes math homework, reading assignments, studying for tests, and homework in his world language.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are sample questions embedded into the testing sessions. Please don't buy practice books for your kids; the test is supposed to measure ability, not learned achievement.

So many people doing it, you are at a disadvantage if you don’t. It’s just the truth.

I am not disputing this but just one lone voice out in the world saying we did zero prep with either of our kids. My one kid did well but not a super high score. My other kid got a really high score. Based on what I know about them, the test did it's job and placed them where they should be and reflected their ability. It didn't cross my mind to do prep.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are sample questions embedded into the testing sessions. Please don't buy practice books for your kids; the test is supposed to measure ability, not learned achievement.

So many people doing it, you are at a disadvantage if you don’t. It’s just the truth.

I am not disputing this but just one lone voice out in the world saying we did zero prep with either of our kids. My one kid did well but not a super high score. My other kid got a really high score. Based on what I know about them, the test did it's job and placed them where they should be and reflected their ability. It didn't cross my mind to do prep.

We knew our kids were probably borderline but wanted to nudge them over the edge. You can't prove the negative but they are now doing great and it was a minimal time/money investment from us. I don't see any harm.

The harm is that these tests than become about who has resources and knowledge to prep their kids for them and is why in more diverse schools, the white kids end up tagged gifted and the non-white kids less so. Look at any school or school systems stats. It's a known issue. It does do pretty large harm in the aggregate.

If the test is that easy to prep kids for, then the schools should either switch tests or do some prep in school so everyone benefits from the prep. If the school isn't doing that then that is a systemic problem and you as a parent have to do what is best for your kid. Just like I give my kids extra math work for reinforcement since they don't get math homework. That also disadvantages lower-income kids whose parents don't have the resources to do this. And so while the school got rid of homework in the name of equity, likely doing that just made equity issues worse.

Except schools did not actually get rid of homework in the name of equity. There hasn't been homework in many elementary schools for years even before the current era of all equity all the time because giving homework to kids that age is not evidence-based. I do understand it makes Type A people feel better. Oh and there is still homework in middle school and high school.

My kids are in an APS middle school that does not have homework and has implied it is because of equity. It is a rough transition from no homework in 8th grade to lots of homework in high school for a lot of kids. I don't know where you are getting your info on homework in middle school but it is not consistent with my kids' experience. I agree that no homework in elementary makes sense. But for kids learning algebra and geometry in middle school, I think it is nuts.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are sample questions embedded into the testing sessions. Please don't buy practice books for your kids; the test is supposed to measure ability, not learned achievement.

So many people doing it, you are at a disadvantage if you don’t. It’s just the truth.

I am not disputing this but just one lone voice out in the world saying we did zero prep with either of our kids. My one kid did well but not a super high score. My other kid got a really high score. Based on what I know about them, the test did it's job and placed them where they should be and reflected their ability. It didn't cross my mind to do prep.

We knew our kids were probably borderline but wanted to nudge them over the edge. You can't prove the negative but they are now doing great and it was a minimal time/money investment from us. I don't see any harm.

The harm is that these tests than become about who has resources and knowledge to prep their kids for them and is why in more diverse schools, the white kids end up tagged gifted and the non-white kids less so. Look at any school or school systems stats. It's a known issue. It does do pretty large harm in the aggregate.

If the test is that easy to prep kids for, then the schools should either switch tests or do some prep in school so everyone benefits from the prep. If the school isn't doing that then that is a systemic problem and you as a parent have to do what is best for your kid. Just like I give my kids extra math work for reinforcement since they don't get math homework. That also disadvantages lower-income kids whose parents don't have the resources to do this. And so while the school got rid of homework in the name of equity, likely doing that just made equity issues worse.

Except schools did not actually get rid of homework in the name of equity. There hasn't been homework in many elementary schools for years even before the current era of all equity all the time because giving homework to kids that age is not evidence-based. I do understand it makes Type A people feel better. Oh and there is still homework in middle school and high school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are sample questions embedded into the testing sessions. Please don't buy practice books for your kids; the test is supposed to measure ability, not learned achievement.

So many people doing it, you are at a disadvantage if you don’t. It’s just the truth.

I am not disputing this but just one lone voice out in the world saying we did zero prep with either of our kids. My one kid did well but not a super high score. My other kid got a really high score. Based on what I know about them, the test did it's job and placed them where they should be and reflected their ability. It didn't cross my mind to do prep.

We knew our kids were probably borderline but wanted to nudge them over the edge. You can't prove the negative but they are now doing great and it was a minimal time/money investment from us. I don't see any harm.

The harm is that these tests than become about who has resources and knowledge to prep their kids for them and is why in more diverse schools, the white kids end up tagged gifted and the non-white kids less so. Look at any school or school systems stats. It's a known issue. It does do pretty large harm in the aggregate.

If the test is that easy to prep kids for, then the schools should either switch tests or do some prep in school so everyone benefits from the prep. If the school isn't doing that then that is a systemic problem and you as a parent have to do what is best for your kid. Just like I give my kids extra math work for reinforcement since they don't get math homework. That also disadvantages lower-income kids whose parents don't have the resources to do this. And so while the school got rid of homework in the name of equity, likely doing that just made equity issues worse.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are sample questions embedded into the testing sessions. Please don't buy practice books for your kids; the test is supposed to measure ability, not learned achievement.

So many people doing it, you are at a disadvantage if you don’t. It’s just the truth.

I am not disputing this but just one lone voice out in the world saying we did zero prep with either of our kids. My one kid did well but not a super high score. My other kid got a really high score. Based on what I know about them, the test did it's job and placed them where they should be and reflected their ability. It didn't cross my mind to do prep.

We knew our kids were probably borderline but wanted to nudge them over the edge. You can't prove the negative but they are now doing great and it was a minimal time/money investment from us. I don't see any harm.

The harm is that these tests than become about who has resources and knowledge to prep their kids for them and is why in more diverse schools, the white kids end up tagged gifted and the non-white kids less so. Look at any school or school systems stats. It's a known issue. It does do pretty large harm in the aggregate.

If your plan to improve socioeconomic disparities requires educated and involved parents to hamstring their own children it is going to fail. Just FYI.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are sample questions embedded into the testing sessions. Please don't buy practice books for your kids; the test is supposed to measure ability, not learned achievement.

So many people doing it, you are at a disadvantage if you don’t. It’s just the truth.

I am not disputing this but just one lone voice out in the world saying we did zero prep with either of our kids. My one kid did well but not a super high score. My other kid got a really high score. Based on what I know about them, the test did it's job and placed them where they should be and reflected their ability. It didn't cross my mind to do prep.

We knew our kids were probably borderline but wanted to nudge them over the edge. You can't prove the negative but they are now doing great and it was a minimal time/money investment from us. I don't see any harm.

The harm is that these tests than become about who has resources and knowledge to prep their kids for them and is why in more diverse schools, the white kids end up tagged gifted and the non-white kids less so. Look at any school or school systems stats. It's a known issue. It does do pretty large harm in the aggregate.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are sample questions embedded into the testing sessions. Please don't buy practice books for your kids; the test is supposed to measure ability, not learned achievement.

So many people doing it, you are at a disadvantage if you don’t. It’s just the truth.

I am not disputing this but just one lone voice out in the world saying we did zero prep with either of our kids. My one kid did well but not a super high score. My other kid got a really high score. Based on what I know about them, the test did it's job and placed them where they should be and reflected their ability. It didn't cross my mind to do prep.

We knew our kids were probably borderline but wanted to nudge them over the edge. You can't prove the negative but they are now doing great and it was a minimal time/money investment from us. I don't see any harm.

The harm is that these tests than become about who has resources and knowledge to prep their kids for them and is why in more diverse schools, the white kids end up tagged gifted and the non-white kids less so. Look at any school or school systems stats. It's a known issue. It does do pretty large harm in the aggregate.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are sample questions embedded into the testing sessions. Please don't buy practice books for your kids; the test is supposed to measure ability, not learned achievement.

Nah, we bought a practice book. It tests math and reading, so I’m not sure how that’s a pure ability test vs acquired knowledge. Prepping isn’t going to bring a 100 up to 130. It might get a kid from 125 to 135 though.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are sample questions embedded into the testing sessions. Please don't buy practice books for your kids; the test is supposed to measure ability, not learned achievement.

So many people doing it, you are at a disadvantage if you don’t. It’s just the truth.

I am not disputing this but just one lone voice out in the world saying we did zero prep with either of our kids. My one kid did well but not a super high score. My other kid got a really high score. Based on what I know about them, the test did it's job and placed them where they should be and reflected their ability. It didn't cross my mind to do prep.

We knew our kids were probably borderline but wanted to nudge them over the edge. You can't prove the negative but they are now doing great and it was a minimal time/money investment from us. I don't see any harm.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are sample questions embedded into the testing sessions. Please don't buy practice books for your kids; the test is supposed to measure ability, not learned achievement.

So many people doing it, you are at a disadvantage if you don’t. It’s just the truth.

I am not disputing this but just one lone voice out in the world saying we did zero prep with either of our kids. My one kid did well but not a super high score. My other kid got a really high score. Based on what I know about them, the test did it's job and placed them where they should be and reflected their ability. It didn't cross my mind to do prep.

Anonymous wrote:There are sample questions embedded into the testing sessions. Please don't buy practice books for your kids; the test is supposed to measure ability, not learned achievement.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are sample questions embedded into the testing sessions. Please don't buy practice books for your kids; the test is supposed to measure ability, not learned achievement.

So many people doing it, you are at a disadvantage if you don’t. It’s just the truth.