OGT News: Ohio Begins Achievement Test Week
With just over a month to go before the last day of school, Ohio students in grades three through eight face one more obstacle before the lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer. They must take the Ohio Achievement Tests next week - about six weeks later than the traditional testing period.
An article in Sunday's Toledo Blade said about 823,000 students will take the tests, which are as important to the districts as they are to the kids.
Results are figured into the district's report card, a performance indicator. Districts who perform poorly over a long period of time are forced to offer free tutoring and transfers for students who want out.
But standardized tests remain controversial for both students and teachers. Teachers say they limit their ability to educate and put unnecessary stress on students. Many students and parents agree, citing instances when kids got sick at the thought of facing test week.
The number of standardized tests administered in Ohio public schools has increased from last year, largely because of federal requirements associated with "No Child Left Behind." Ohio is meeting the requirements with this year's aligned achievement tests, which replaced the old proficiency tests, and the Ohio Graduation Test, which replaced the ninth grade proficiency test as a requirement for graduation.
This year, the tests are being given a bit later than in previous years (March period) in order to give students more time to prepare.
In Toledo, there were pep rallies on Friday to pump up students facing test week. Some schools even offered free hot breakfasts this week in order to give students more than a fighting chance of success.
An article in Sunday's Toledo Blade said about 823,000 students will take the tests, which are as important to the districts as they are to the kids.
Results are figured into the district's report card, a performance indicator. Districts who perform poorly over a long period of time are forced to offer free tutoring and transfers for students who want out.
But standardized tests remain controversial for both students and teachers. Teachers say they limit their ability to educate and put unnecessary stress on students. Many students and parents agree, citing instances when kids got sick at the thought of facing test week.
The number of standardized tests administered in Ohio public schools has increased from last year, largely because of federal requirements associated with "No Child Left Behind." Ohio is meeting the requirements with this year's aligned achievement tests, which replaced the old proficiency tests, and the Ohio Graduation Test, which replaced the ninth grade proficiency test as a requirement for graduation.
This year, the tests are being given a bit later than in previous years (March period) in order to give students more time to prepare.
In Toledo, there were pep rallies on Friday to pump up students facing test week. Some schools even offered free hot breakfasts this week in order to give students more than a fighting chance of success.
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