This Is Only a Test

One of my all-time favorite comic strips is Bill Watterson’s Calvin and Hobbes.  When our older kids were little, we bought all of his published books.  By the end of the 90s, they were showing the wear and tear of constant usage.  Today, the younger ones still read the tattered but much-loved anthologies.  To be honest, when I occasionally find them lying around house, I still take a few minutes to catch up with my old friend and his stuffed tiger as well.  We grieved in 1995 as Calvin and Hobbes rode their little wagon off into history and Watterson moved on to other endeavors ending Calvin’s ten-year run.

Calvin puts into words all those irreverent thoughts that go through our own minds at one time or another.  We may be too reserved to say them out loud, but Calvin certainly isn’t.  Since the topic for today is testing, I thought Calvin might help make a difficult topic more palatable.

What State Do You Live In?

We are closing in on Spring Break.  This augments well for the coming of warmer weather and sunny skies.  There is, however, no denying that Spring Break also marks the beginning of testing season for high schools in Indiana. In the coming weeks, I will send out detailed schedules, but three major tests are looming on the horizon.  Please keep these in mind as you plan out the remainder of the year.

ACCUPLACER Diagnostic: April 14-18

In the 2013 session, the Indiana General Assembly passed HEA 1005, and Governor Pence signed PL 268-2013 into state law.  This law requires juniors who meet specific criteria to take a college and career readiness test.  Originally the testing requirement was scheduled to start during the 2014-2015 school year, but this past January the deadline was moved up, so we are testing soon.

All juniors who did not pass the English 10 and/or Algebra I End of Course Assessment or did not score above 45 on math and/or Reading on the PSAT must take the ACCUPLACER Diagnostic.  Our guidance counselors will give about 400 of these exams to juniors during the week of April 14.  The assessment is brand new this year, so you might not be aware of this new state mandate.  Heads up!

Advanced Placement Testing: May 5-May 16

Every year we seem to give more and more AP Exams.  They provide a great opportunity for our students to show they have learned difficult content at high levels, and they provide opportunities for students to earn college credit and get a head start on the next stage in life.

This year we will proctor well over 1500 exams in the full range of topics.  At least five courses have over 100 students participating, and one has over 250 students taking the AP exam.  These tests are bound to impact your students at some point during the test window.

End of Course Assessments: May 6-23

ECAs take place over a three-week window.  English 10 tests will be given to all sophomore students on May 6-9.  Plan for an adjusted schedule on Tuesday and Wednesday of that week, so most of the testing can be completed during extended SMART Periods.  We will not have a SMART Period on Monday.  Juniors and seniors who need to re-test will take the test on Tuesday morning, but Special Education and EL students will be pulled at various times throughout the week, so they can test receive testing accommodations.

The Biology ECA takes place the week of May 13-16.  This test impacts the Freshman Center more than the Main Campus.  We will not have an adjusted schedule for this week.

Algebra I tests are taken the week of May 20-23 and follow a pattern similar to English 10.  Most of the testing takes place at the Freshman Center, but we will need another adjusted schedule on Tuesday and Wednesday.  Those students who need to retest will do so on Tuesday morning.  Special Education students and EL students will be pulled from classes throughout the week to make sure they get their accommodations.

All told, we are scheduled to give over 2000 End of Course Assessments.  Both the English and Algebra tests take two separate sessions, so the odds are pretty good some of your students will be involved in the process.  Our students, especially upperclassmen who are still testing, are very aware that these are high stakes tests, so keep stress levels in mind as you plan for these weeks.

It Is What It Is

Love it or hate it, testing is a reality of teaching in a secondary school in Indiana.  Hopefully, knowing what lies ahead can help you plan for the coming months.  I will pass along the specific details for each testing window as we get nearer.

Bill Watterson, through Calvin, once said, “There is never all the time to do all the nothing you want.”  That may be true, but in four more days, I hope you get a chance to do a bunch of nothing.  Enjoy your Spring Break, HSE, and gear up for those final months that test both our students and our patience.

Phil