Schools will allow extra testing time

NEW YORK--Students can rest a little easier when taking their state assessment tests this spring. According to the New York State School Boards Association (NYSSBA), students in grades three through eight will be allowed to take extra time to complete their English and math tests, as long as they are working productively. Prior to this change, students were given 60 to 90 minutes depending on the test or section. In addition, the tests will have fewer questions than they did in previous years.
Dundee Superintendent Kelly Houck said the definition of "working productively" has not been identified by the state, but noted it should include students who are still progressing and attempting to complete their exam. These students will be allowed to take as much as needed to complete the assessment, or until they have stopped working productively. Hammondsport Superintendent Kyle Bower said his district is currently working with teachers on the definition to ensure there is clarity on the potential issue district-wide.
"Many of the reasons [for opting out] given last year did result around the high stakes testing environment and students feeling rushed to complete the exam," Houck said. "This shift should mitigate some of these concerns."
"It will allow for the thoughtful completion of answers on both assessments without having to rely on reading speed or the quick recall of facts or formulas," Bower added.
Bower said he also hopes these changes result in fewer opt outs, noting assessments are tools the district uses to help understand where students currently are based on a series of benchmarks. With no state assessment data to review, Bower said they lose a tool that will help them better meet their students' needs. He said the changes will eliminate speed as a variable when districts look at how the students perform on the assessments.
Bower noted the ELA test will feature one less reading passage and six to seven fewer questions on the first day of testing. Day two will have one less two-point constructed responses. In math, he said two multiple choice questions have been removed on both day one and day two of testing.
However, despite fewer test questions, both the English and math exams will still take place over a three day period. Houck mentioned shortened state testing cycles of any configuration would be welcomed should the state choose to go to two days in the future.
"I am always in favor of getting the best information possible in the least intrusive way," Bower said. "Three days of untimed testing among six grade levels of students will disrupt our normal school schedule for at least two weeks. Assessment is important, but it needs to be less intrusive in the system overall."
This may not be the first year for changes in the state assessments, as Houck noted next year districts have the opportunity to select computer-based testing. She claims this is "a positive step forward in state assessment." Bower added he would also like to see the state eliminate the artificial federally imposed 95 percent participation requirement tied to federal funding.
While Watkins Glen Superintendent Tom Phillips said untamed testing is "a positive step forward" for students, he noted some special needs students already have as much as double the allotted time to complete tests.
"Is it really in the best interest of a child to have them spend four-plus hours taking a test?" said Phillips. "In my opinion, it certainly is not educationally sound practice, especially for a special needs child."
Phillips said there needs to be a valid system of accountability for student results related to success and learning, adding a system that measures what students can do with what they learn would be more effective. He said this would require performance or project based assessments. Another component of student assessment Phillips said should be addressed is measuring student success two, four and six years after graduation. He added it would be better for students to learn in a way that is more conducive to the way they would be working in their career path.