Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It was not the entire course in one exam. It only goes back to the second half of the year.

Which makes all these 25-50% passing rates even worse. MCPS has been blessed with very educated parents who pretty much teach/enrich their kids lives at home. They keep those test scores up in our county. What MCPS can not do is teach the average child or the below average child to pass a class. Many teachers grade on curves, give extra credit, let them redo a project or report. It is easy to pass a class without actually knowing the material. The exam is the one thing the teacher can not touch (although in 2014, the exams grades were so bad, they gave EVERYONE 15 extra points - for NOTHING!!! - well except to bump up their scores to make MCPS not look so bad) Of course the kids are happy but I can not fathom why parents are happy.

This happened one time, for one final, for one course.

Anonymous wrote:It was not the entire course in one exam. It only goes back to the second half of the year.

Which makes all these 25-50% passing rates even worse. MCPS has been blessed with very educated parents who pretty much teach/enrich their kids lives at home. They keep those test scores up in our county. What MCPS can not do is teach the average child or the below average child to pass a class. Many teachers grade on curves, give extra credit, let them redo a project or report. It is easy to pass a class without actually knowing the material. The exam is the one thing the teacher can not touch (although in 2014, the exams grades were so bad, they gave EVERYONE 15 extra points - for NOTHING!!! - well except to bump up their scores to make MCPS not look so bad) Of course the kids are happy but I can not fathom why parents are happy.

It was not the entire course in one exam. It only goes back to the second half of the year.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So exam pass rates in high school geometry and pre-calculus increased, and this indicates failure?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/three-out-of-four-high-schoolers-failed-algebra-1-final-exams-in-md-district/2015/07/22/d4ab97d0-2b0f-11e5-bd33-395c05608059_story.html

Yes because only 36% passed. Up from 29%. That IS a failure. The fact that you don't think it is, is shocking.

I agree with PP, 36% is terrible. DD took Geometry final in 8th grade last year---it is a good skill to have to cover the entire course in one exam. Reinforces knowledge of the subject. She didn't have to study too much because she had A's but some on areas she was weaker. The PARCC tests they should NOT have to prep for so the time should only be testing. If they teachers are teaching it. The class finals, a little review necessary. I do not think they should be ditching the exams. But kids are happy about it......

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On BTSN, in my child's AP GOV class we were told that last year the kids took 4 tests at the end of the year...The AP test, the HSA, PARCC, and the final. Skipping the final this year is fine with me!

Do all kids in AP Gov sit for the AP exam? If they don't, then I think they should have to take a final.

At our school, kids who take the AP test are exempt from the final. The HSA has been done away with and replaced by the PARCC. So in AP Govt, kids only have to take the AP test and the PARCC. Nothing has changed with the BOE decision except for non-AP classes.

The HSA for Government has not been done away with. It was given last year and will be given again this year in May.

The good change that was made (in high schools) is that PARCC and HSA will be given the same week in May. That eliminates the March and April testing of PARCC, which effectively accomplishes what MCPS claims they want to happen: less testing.

Anonymous wrote:So exam pass rates in high school geometry and pre-calculus increased, and this indicates failure?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/three-out-of-four-high-schoolers-failed-algebra-1-final-exams-in-md-district/2015/07/22/d4ab97d0-2b0f-11e5-bd33-395c05608059_story.html

Yes because only 36% passed. Up from 29%. That IS a failure. The fact that you don't think it is, is shocking.

Why is MCPS removing final exams? Am I the only one that thinks they should have exam?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On BTSN, in my child's AP GOV class we were told that last year the kids took 4 tests at the end of the year...The AP test, the HSA, PARCC, and the final. Skipping the final this year is fine with me!

Do all kids in AP Gov sit for the AP exam? If they don't, then I think they should have to take a final.

At our school, kids who take the AP test are exempt from the final. The HSA has been done away with and replaced by the PARCC. So in AP Govt, kids only have to take the AP test and the PARCC. Nothing has changed with the BOE decision except for non-AP classes.

So exam pass rates in high school geometry and pre-calculus increased, and this indicates failure?

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/three-out-of-four-high-schoolers-failed-algebra-1-final-exams-in-md-district/2015/07/22/d4ab97d0-2b0f-11e5-bd33-395c05608059_story.html

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The numbers showed everything. Doing away with the exams is just a massive coverup on how bad the schools are really teaching them the required curriculum. Anyone who thinks otherwise, is a fool.

What, exactly, did which numbers show, and why do you think that they showed that?

Reread the thread (actually read it, because it is obvious you didn't.) look at the articles and links posted and then come back when you are informed.

I have read the thread. I would like to know which numbers you are talking about.

You are just like MCPS, not thorough enough.

I guess you would rather post insults than answer the question?

Reread page 5 you moron. Seriously, it is all typed out for you and you can not see it? There is a posted link in one message, copied reports of failure rates in all maths. Another one showing the history and science failures. There are percentages on other messages as well as graphs on one of the links of every math offered in high school. Do you want me to copy and paste it from page 5 "all the way over here" to page 7. Honestly....

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:On BTSN, in my child's AP GOV class we were told that last year the kids took 4 tests at the end of the year...The AP test, the HSA, PARCC, and the final. Skipping the final this year is fine with me!

Do all kids in AP Gov sit for the AP exam? If they don't, then I think they should have to take a final.

Two tests aren't enough?

In any case, MCPS is not getting rid of final exams. MCPS is getting rid of two-hour final exam periods.

Anonymous wrote:On BTSN, in my child's AP GOV class we were told that last year the kids took 4 tests at the end of the year...The AP test, the HSA, PARCC, and the final. Skipping the final this year is fine with me!

Do all kids in AP Gov sit for the AP exam? If they don't, then I think they should have to take a final.

On BTSN, in my child's AP GOV class we were told that last year the kids took 4 tests at the end of the year...The AP test, the HSA, PARCC, and the final. Skipping the final this year is fine with me!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The numbers showed everything. Doing away with the exams is just a massive coverup on how bad the schools are really teaching them the required curriculum. Anyone who thinks otherwise, is a fool.

What, exactly, did which numbers show, and why do you think that they showed that?

Reread the thread (actually read it, because it is obvious you didn't.) look at the articles and links posted and then come back when you are informed.

I have read the thread. I would like to know which numbers you are talking about.

You are just like MCPS, not thorough enough.

I guess you would rather post insults than answer the question?

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The numbers showed everything. Doing away with the exams is just a massive coverup on how bad the schools are really teaching them the required curriculum. Anyone who thinks otherwise, is a fool.

What, exactly, did which numbers show, and why do you think that they showed that?

Reread the thread (actually read it, because it is obvious you didn't.) look at the articles and links posted and then come back when you are informed.

I have read the thread. I would like to know which numbers you are talking about.

You are just like MCPS, not thorough enough.