Smarter Balanced Assessments. Maybe if we knew more about them, we might dread them less.
We have a number of questions about the recent standardized tests. For example, why don’t we prepare more for the tests so that we can really do well? This year, for eighth graders, there was little to no preparation other than the practices tests mandated by the state. Maybe if students were better prepared, fewer students would want to opt out.

How is our student data being used to help us learn better and tell us how we’re doing? Are these records going to follow us to Staples? Why do our scores matter? Do our schools and teachers depend on good scores? Are standardized tests good for our education?
The biggest question we have is if we can opt out of them. And if we do opt out, how does that affect our school?

It turns out that the state enforces SBACs because the United States Department of Education requires 95 percent of the country to take the them, and if those standards aren’t met the district will lose money.
Kids are opting out of the SBACs, and we believe that if 95 percent of the grade is required by the country to take the test, then 100 percent should be asked to participate.

We also think if we have to take the tests, there should be more preparation than just that practice tests mandated by the state, and an explanation for why we should do well, and what will happen if we don’t. Many of us were unable to answer the questions on the test (and considering that 60 percent of test takers are projected to fail the tests based on the piloted tests in New York State according to Seattle Education 2010, that’s not surprising).

Some just gave up and chose random answers on the multiple choice. Not only does this affect the student scores, but reflects poorly on the teachers and the school district, and students aren’t told that.
If we’re unable to make these changes, then many students will continue to dread the SBACs for all the wrong reasons.