EatonBlog

Principal’s Night In

Mrs. Malone’s April Principal’s Night In focused on achievement tests and the implications for students.  You can check out this presention by clicking on the PowerPoint slideshow on the Eaton web site at www.eatonschool.org.  Comments and questions about TCAP testing are welcome. 

1 comment March 7th, 2008

It’s Almost TCAP Time in Tennessee!

Some of you may have April 15th marked on your calendars for the tax implications.  Educators have that date marked because it signals the beginning of Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP).  Several of you indicated on a recent parent survey that were unsure about this testing program.  What does it mean for your children and the school?  Why do schools place so much emphasis on testing.  The reason is — It’s the law!

 No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation enacted in 2002 changed the face of education.  Despite a lack of federal funding, this law requires states to establish stringent curriculum standards for reading/language, math, science, and social studies to be tested annually.  The goal of NCLB is that all students are academically proficient in these subjects by 2014.  School districts are measured on their ability to move toward that goal by showing each year a greater percentage of its students meet proficiency standards.  Each state must use the same standards for all school districts, and all public school students are required to take the annual tests.  Yearly state report cards will separate achievement data into subgroups.  Consequently, each subgroup must show the same gains as required for groups as a whole.  For instance, students who are economically disadvantaged must make the same gains as their non-economically disadvantaged peers.  This holds true for different genders, ethnicity, English langauge learners, and special education students. 

NCLB requires states to establish stringent annual improvements for each school.  This measurement is called Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP).  AYP is determined by each state, and again, all subgroups must reach these expectations. 

Schools who fail to make AYP for two or more consecutive years in the same subject or subgroup face consequences which include school choice, supplemental educational services (to be paid for at the local level), and restructuring. 

To meet AYP 95% of all students must take TCAP, students in all subgroups must show proficiency in math, reading/language, science, and social studies, and the school must maintain a 93% attendance rate (thus the new emphasis on attendance and the increase in truancy referrals). 

Here at Eaton we test all students in grades 1-4; however, for state report card purposes, only the results from grades 3-4 are used.  The state uses two different types of tests depending on the grade level of the child. 

Students in grades 1-2 take what is called a “Norm Referenced Test” (NRT).  This instrument gives a comparison of student performance in five content areas agains a national norm group.  The expectation is that the average score for a school or school system will be at the national average. 

Students in grades 3-8 take “Criterion Referenced Tests” (CRT).  CRTs measure an individual student’s performance against a predetermined set of standards which are established based on the curriculum.  The state determines  “cut scores” that put children into three different groups — advanced, proficient, or not proficient. 

How has NCLB changed education and what does it mean for Eaton and my child?  Having been in this business for 17 years, I think the greatest change is that the state curriculum standards absolutely drive all instruction.  Teachers no longer have the time or freedom to teach topics that fall outside the grade level curriculum.   Time also becomes a factor because of the sheer number of the curriculum standards required for each grade level.  Curriculum continues to get tougher at each grade level with more expected at a younger age.  Data analysis now drives School Improvement Planning as we look at all subgroups to make sure all our students are making the same gains.  We have had to “toughen up” on absenteeism and there has been an increase in truacy referrals due to the 93% attendance rule of NCLB.  Even if a school meets all academic benchmarks but fails to reach attendance rate, they do not make AYP. 

If you are not dizzy from all this information, I would be happy to answer any questions or clear up any misunderstandings.  Just post a comment. 

Add comment March 7th, 2008