Today is a prime example of how CATS testing is reaching new heights of absurdity. The only reason Campbell Co. went to school was to get in another day before testing. Yet there were 2 problems with going to school today. First by planning on getting out 2 hours early the classes were only 30 minutes long and due to the revised schedule some voca students missed classes, because they were at voca. Second, it was understood that because we are over the limit of use of delays and early release, we have to make up the day.

Why go to school when it is known that the day has to be made up, before the students even get on the bus? Saying that it was a needed day of instruction before testing shows how rediculous the situation has become with our current testing system. To go to school knowing there will be limited instruction and having to make up the time was _____ (I let you fill in the blank). There needs to be changes in the system.

Going to school today was just one of those "feel good " moments because the effort was made , we tried, it looks good on paper and whatever "warm fuzzy" line you can come up with.

Today is a prime example of how CATS testing is reaching new heights of absurdity. The only reason Campbell Co. went to school was to get in another day before testing. Yet there were 2 problems with going to school today. First by planning on getting out 2 hours early the classes were only 30 minutes long and due to the revised schedule some voca students missed classes, because they were at voca. Second, it was understood that because we are over the limit of use of delays and early release, we have to make up the day.

Why go to school when it is known that the day has to be made up, before the students even get on the bus? Saying that it was a needed day of instruction before testing shows how rediculous the situation has become with our current testing system. To go to school knowing there will be limited instruction and having to make up the time was _____ (I let you fill in the blank). There needs to be changes in the system.

Going to school today was just one of those "feel good " moments because the effort was made , we tried, it looks good on paper and whatever "warm fuzzy" line you can come up with.

 

 

 

I agree with you on the state testing. All schools around the state are going through the same thing....they are driven by CATS Assessment. What used to be a April test has now gone to a year long test. In the high school, the Seniors begin testing in September (on demand) then the 10th grade students take the PLAN (Pre-ACT) in November. (Somewhere between the November and March test, the seniors also take the Skills Standards Test)Then in March, the 11th grade students take the ACT....but we're not finished yet. In April, the 12th grade must turn in their senior portfolios, which is an all time favorite of mine.... what takes up most of their senior year of English. After all this, the big test... Last of April - first of May for the 10th and 11th grade. (10th takes Reading and Practical Living and the 11th takes Math, Science, Social Studies and Humanities). Why can't the state see that this much testing takes up instructional time. If they would just go to one national test, like CTBS or the ACT tests (Explore, Plan and ACT), it would make alot of sense.... but know our governor has already stated, without even considering the good or the bad, that he will veto the new recommendations for accountability testing. Wow what a great public education system we have.

It is a joke that the Testing dates wont be moved back, we need to implement a national test.....in almost 20 years of CATS we have moved from 49th in the nation to 47th.....if these rankings were the Kentucky Basketball Team their coach would have been fired by now

It is a joke that the Testing dates wont be moved back, we need to implement a national test.....in almost 20 years of CATS we have moved from 49th in the nation to 47th.....if these rankings were the Kentucky Basketball Team their coach would have been fired by now

 

:thumb:

If there was a national test would it change the practice procedures for student's?

It is a joke that the Testing dates wont be moved back, we need to implement a national test.....in almost 20 years of CATS we have moved from 49th in the nation to 47th.....if these rankings were the Kentucky Basketball Team their coach would have been fired by now

 

:thumb::thumb:

If there was a national test would it change the practice procedures for student's?

 

 

Yes. A large amount of time is used up in preparing for the test and I am not talking about learning time. We also spend time trying to get the students excited about taking the test.

 

We will take time out of instructional time to get our testing teams to make posters, slogans and t-shirts to pump them up. Winners then get to go to movies or a Red's game. More instructional time lost, this is part of the idea that by eliminating the CATS Test it would give students and teachers 21 more days of learning.

 

On top of all it all is that the CATS Tests means nothing to the students, as it is not tied to their grades or graduating. Employers do look at their scores and no scholarships are given for a high test scores. For this reason the students do not care about the test. At least with the ACT one has a chance with gettting a schoralship.

If it ain't CATS it will be some other testing that the politicians come up with that has to, in their mind, justify the money they spend on education.

Today is a prime example of how CATS testing is reaching new heights of absurdity. The only reason Campbell Co. went to school was to get in another day before testing. Yet there were 2 problems with going to school today. First by planning on getting out 2 hours early the classes were only 30 minutes long and due to the revised schedule some voca students missed classes, because they were at voca. Second, it was understood that because we are over the limit of use of delays and early release, we have to make up the day.

Why go to school when it is known that the day has to be made up, before the students even get on the bus? Saying that it was a needed day of instruction before testing shows how rediculous the situation has become with our current testing system. To go to school knowing there will be limited instruction and having to make up the time was _____ (I let you fill in the blank). There needs to be changes in the system.

Going to school today was just one of those "feel good " moments because the effort was made , we tried, it looks good on paper and whatever "warm fuzzy" line you can come up with.

 

I am in NO WAY a supporter of the CATS test, but this is a Campbell Co issue, not a CATS test issue.

Yes. A large amount of time is used up in preparing for the test and I am not talking about learning time. We also spend time trying to get the students excited about taking the test.

 

We will take time out of instructional time to get our testing teams to make posters, slogans and t-shirts to pump them up. Winners then get to go to movies or a Red's game. More instructional time lost, this is part of the idea that by eliminating the CATS Test it would give students and teachers 21 more days of learning.

 

On top of all it all is that the CATS Tests means nothing to the students, as it is not tied to their grades or graduating. Employers do look at their scores and no scholarships are given for a high test scores. For this reason the students do not care about the test. At least with the ACT one has a chance with gettting a schoralship.

 

I think what the question refers to is, if your school is still held accountable for their scores (while the STUDENTS are not), no matter what type of test, would you still take time to pump them up, prepare them, practice the test, and reward them? If so, just the format would change, not the amount of instructional time lost.

 

The biggest benefits that I see would be doing away with portfolios and on-demand writing. Very little of this is useful to the student after graduation. How many of you write feature articles and poems on a daily/weekly/even montly basis? Only if you become a writer, I suspect.

I think what the question refers to is, if your school is still held accountable for their scores (while the STUDENTS are not), no matter what type of test, would you still take time to pump them up, prepare them, practice the test, and reward them? If so, just the format would change, not the amount of instructional time lost.

 

The biggest benefits that I see would be doing away with portfolios and on-demand writing. Very little of this is useful to the student after graduation. How many of you write feature articles and poems on a daily/weekly/even montly basis? Only if you become a writer, I suspect.

 

How many of them will be posed a problem or question, will need to organize their thoughts on the issue and then be able to respond with a logical answer that can be comprehended?

 

That is the basis of those things. The written pieces are just the byproduct.

Do away with CATS testing. I can not think of anything positive that comes from high stakes testing. All this does is put stress on teachers, administrators, and students to perform well or face penalties. In most Professional development, they talk of positive reinforcement and how this is the best type of motivation. Why should teachers and administrators use positive reinforcement towards students, when politicians and so called experts threaten teachers and adminstrators with their jobs? That seems to agianst the norm.

I am in NO WAY a supporter of the CATS test, but this is a Campbell Co issue, not a CATS test issue.

 

We went school because of the supposed need to to a another day for testing.

 

Why go for a shortened day when you know beforehand you are going to have to make up the day? Even if we did not have to make up the day, classes were only a half-hour long.

 

It was driven by the testing and no other reason.

Yes. A large amount of time is used up in preparing for the test and I am not talking about learning time. We also spend time trying to get the students excited about taking the test.

 

We will take time out of instructional time to get our testing teams to make posters, slogans and t-shirts to pump them up. Winners then get to go to movies or a Red's game. More instructional time lost, this is part of the idea that by eliminating the CATS Test it would give students and teachers 21 more days of learning.

 

On top of all it all is that the CATS Tests means nothing to the students, as it is not tied to their grades or graduating. Employers do look at their scores and no scholarships are given for a high test scores. For this reason the students do not care about the test. At least with the ACT one has a chance with gettting a schoralship.

 

I do remember our child had to bring home packet's to complete and return every six weeks when he was in 2nd grade. (This was in a different state). It was tied into the state testing system. The school was very focused on the result's of the test. It's hard to keep motivating a 7 yr old for this long.

How many of them will be posed a problem or question, will need to organize their thoughts on the issue and then be able to respond with a logical answer that can be comprehended?

 

That is the basis of those things. The written pieces are just the byproduct.

 

We didn't do this before CATS testing? With products that they actually needed?