What if we all skipped the EOGs?

[lisamont72]

What is the name of your state? NC

What would happen if students boycotted the EOG tests in public school? Are the tests mandatory for students or just the schools? If a large percentage simply kept their kids home on testing days, what could they do?

-- lisa

 

[stealth2]

What is the name of your state? NC

What would happen if students boycotted the EOG tests in public school? Are the tests mandatory for students or just the schools? If a large percentage simply kept their kids home on testing days, what could they do?

-- lisa

So are the STUDENTS boycotting the tests, or are the PARENTS?

 

[lisamont72]

Both or either.

In elementary school, I would imagine that it would be mainly parents. In the older grades it could be either.

- lisa

 

[Zigner]

Let's see -

EOG testing is required to advance to the next grade...
It seems pretty clear to me what would happen if you don't do the tests...

 

[Perky]

EOG testing is required to advance to the next grade...

Is that true? I've heard of high school graduation being denied, but not advancement to the next grade.

Another problem that the school and/or district may face if many students skip the test is the loss of federal funding. It may seem that only the school would suffer, but without the funding, schools that rely on the funding would have to cut services or programs.

 

[mommyof4]

Is that true? I've heard of high school graduation being denied, but not advancement to the next grade.

Another problem that the school and/or district may face if many students skip the test is the loss of federal funding. It may seem that only the school would suffer, but without the funding, schools that rely on the funding would have to cut services or programs.

It is here in TX. Look up TAKS. It sucks.

I really and truly blew off the claims that the tests were racist until I tutored a group of 5th graders (primarily ELS students) for the MATH test. The way the word problems were written was a complete nightmare. I missed 3 of the questions based solely on the writing.

All TAKS is for is to rate the schools for the federal $$$. The teachers are burned out teaching to the test, the kids are stressed, and they (the tests) are worthless and poorly designed. My daughter's principal was putting so much pressure on her for the reading portion this year that she was a basket case. I sat her down and told her that I really didn't care if she even took the test. It didn't matter a bit because we will be in Ohio for the next school year and it won't even be a consideration. She passed it with flying colors AFTER failing the practice test.

When the question asks a student to choose the BEST answer and there are 2 answers that are correct, you know there's a problem.

 

[Just Blue]

It is here in TX. Look up TAKS. It sucks.

I really and truly blew off the claims that the tests were racist until I tutored a group of 5th graders (primarily ELS students) for the MATH test. The way the word problems were written was a complete nightmare. I missed 3 of the questions based solely on the writing.

All TAKS is for is to rate the schools for the federal $$$. The teachers are burned out teaching to the test, the kids are stressed, and they (the tests) are worthless and poorly designed. My daughter's principal was putting so much pressure on her for the reading portion this year that she was a basket case. I sat her down and told her that I really didn't care if she even took the test. It didn't matter a bit because we will be in Ohio for the next school year and it won't even be a consideration. She passed it with flying colors AFTER failing the practice test.

When the question asks a student to choose the BEST answer and there are 2 answers that are correct, you know there's a problem.

You're moving up North??Cool!!

 

[mommyof4]

You're moving up North??Cool!!

Still south of the Mason Dixon.

But yeah, hubby got the opportunity to move home and since it's HIS job and all, who am I to say no? Actually, his hometown is incredible and I do love it there. Found the house Saturday.

 

[Perky]

Wow, that's amazing. How many times can a student be failed in Texas?

Oh wait, in rereading your post, I'm not sure if students fail their grade if they fail the test.

Anyway, here in Illinois, the state test is only used to evaluate a school's performance. Although we push the students to do well, there are no real repercussions for the students who fail. Our test sucks too. I can't believe they're designed and written by educators, as claimed. If so, the educators must be from the most privileged districts, because our students struggle like those you tutored.

This year was the worst. In the past, our ESL and bilingual students took a different test, and SPED students had lots of accomodations. This year everyone, ESL, Bil., and SPED, had to take the same test with very few accomodations. We're burned out, as are the kids, and now all we can do is worry about making AYP!

 

[mommyof4]

Wow, that's amazing. How many times can a student be failed in Texas?

Oh wait, in rereading your post, I'm not sure if students fail their grade if they fail the test.

Anyway, here in Illinois, the state test is only used to evaluate a school's performance. Although we push the students to do well, there are no real repercussions for the students who fail. Our test sucks too. I can't believe they're designed and written by educators, as claimed. If so, the educators must be from the most privileged districts, because our students struggle like those you tutored.

This year was the worst. In the past, our ESL and bilingual students took a different test, and SPED students had lots of accomodations. This year everyone, ESL, Bil., and SPED, had to take the same test with very few accomodations. We're burned out, as are the kids, and now all we can do is worry about making AYP!

They have 3 chances to pass the 3rd grade tests (for example and only because I know how many chances off the top of my head because we just finished TAKS testing 2 weeks ago). If they never pass it, they do not get promoted to the next grade unless something extraordinary comes to light in the meeting with the principal, parent(s)and teacher. AND the kids start preparing and taking practice tests in the 1st grade (and some teachers start in kindergarten).

Here's a list of testing (grades and subjects). Absolutely ridiculous. Whatever happened to a kid taking a final exam in any given subject on material that is being taught (by state guidelines) to begin with?

• Reading

Grade 3 English
Grade 3 Spanish
Grade 4 English
Grade 4 Spanish
Grade 5 English
Grade 5 Spanish
Grade 6 English
Grade 6 Spanish
Grade 7
Grade 8
Grade 9

• Writing

Grade 4 English
Grade 4 Spanish
Grade 7

• English Language Arts

Grade 10
Exit Level

• Mathematics


Grade 3 English
Grade 3 Spanishnew
Grade 4 English
Grade 4 Spanishnew
Grade 5 English
Grade 5 Spanishnew
Grade 6 English
Grade 6 Spanish
Grade 7
Grade 8
Grade 9
Grade 10
Exit Level

• Science


Grade 5 English
Grade 5 Spanish
Grade 8
Grade 10
Exit Level

• Social Studies

Grade 8
Grade 10
Exit Level

Keep in mind that I am in TX. Guess what language is COMMONLY spoken here. Yet, notice that Spanish tests are only an option on certain tests at certain grade levels. What, our esteemed leaders in Austin don't think we have kids who speak Spanish immigrating after 5th or 6th grade????



Cheating is a HUGE issue (Wilmer Hutchins being the most notorious and blatant).

Another hilarious issue is that my oldest child attends an academy. She is freakishly smart (she's taking algebra for high school credit next year and she will be in the 7th grade AND taking anatomy (a junior level class) for her science...again for HS credit). My second daughter (the one in 3rd grade) is on a normal educational track. She's smart, she's just not crazy with it like her sister. The TAKS test is the same subject matter no matter WHAT school you attend or what educational track you are on. So, my AP kid and my normal kid are tested at the same level, respectively. Now really, is the TAKS going to tell the state that my weird kid is learning to her potential when, in reality, she could answer the questions with her eyes closed and just putting the pencil in the general area of the paper and get correct answer?

On top of this, we still have mid terms and finals (completely appropriate) and the ITBS, and who knows what else.....

 

[Perky]

The Texas test seems similar in many ways to the Illinois test, but there is no fear of grade retention and we definitely DON'T begin prepping for the test in first grade or kindergarten! In fact, we don't begin until 3rd when the students take the test.

For me, your experience just goes to show the adage: No matter how bad you think you've got it, someone has it worse. That damn test is one of the reasons I switched frrom teaching 3rd grade to kindergarten last year. I can't even imagine what kind of dedicated prep I could use to prepare my little ones for the state tests.

I hope you find Ohio has a more balanced system of testing! (Although with NCLB, I doubt it can be a whole lot different!)

Good Luck with your move!