Escambia Students To Take 60 Fewer Tests This Year

September 16, 2015

Escambia County students will face over 60 fewer tests and assessments this school years under an assessment calendar approved by the Escambia County School Board.

“Tests cannot go away completely. They serve an important purpose by allowing teachers to track and understand what students have learned and what they still need to learn”, said Superintendent Malcolm Thomas. All of the tests administered last year were reviewed and categorized as “Required” or “Optional,” and then examined to determine which could be eliminated.

The calendar presented to the school board includes a range of dates for schools to administer over 30 exams that are required by the state. These tests and exams include the Florida Standards Assessments (FSAs) for reading, math and writing in various grades and the FCAT exam for science for fifth and eighth grade students. It also includes the seventh grade civics exam required by the state for all seventh graders in Florida. The district also chose to continue some English/language arts and Math Discovery Education assessments for students in kindergarten through third grade.

We are also keeping some quarterly exams but they have been designated as “Optional.” Those exams cover quarterly assessments for fifth grade science and seventh grade civics, as well as two Discovery Education exams for third grade Math, added Thomas.

Students will have other tests, as they have always had, but they will be selected or created by their teachers.

“Mini-assessments that can be given at the end of a lesson or a chapter allow teachers to find out which facts, operations, or concepts need to be retaught and to know that information quickly, which allows them to use the results for lesson planning,” Thomas said. “The difference is those exams can be scheduled by the teacher and given in class. Schools do not have to completely reorganize their schedule for a quiz or a chapter test.”

The testing calendar has windows with ranges of dates assigned, which does not mean the test will be given every day in that window. Generally the test will be given in the first couple of days in the window with other days scheduled for make-up exams. Having windows of time allows for flexibility in scheduling, especially when the tests are computer based or if the weather causes a disruption in the school schedule.

The calendar also includes the registration deadlines and test dates for the ACT and SAT exams.

“All high school students are encouraged to take the ACT or SAT early so there will be time to take them again should the student wish to try to increase their score,” Thomas encouraged. “If students or their parents have any questions about these exams and their importance, they should schedule an appointment with their guidance counselors.”

The calendar can be downloaded from http://ese.escambia.k12.fl.us/eval/WebDocs/Testing_Calendar_(General).pdf.

Comments

3 Responses to “Escambia Students To Take 60 Fewer Tests This Year”

  1. A Mom on September 17th, 2015 5:55 am

    The EOC tests should be looked @ also,if a student passes class, with certain guidelines, but doesn’t pass test, test should be exempt. Ex: student makes A’s, B’s, 1, maybe 2 C’s, & didn’t pass EOC, it should not be counted against them, everybody has bad days every once in awhile, but when it’s obvious they’re not trying, then yes, bring on the EOC, may give them something to work toward, kinda like an incentive, but when they try like actually really passing the class & did bad on test, then by all means don’t give them a pat on the back, but tell them to work harder next time, just don’t make the EOC a requiring factor to get the course credit, that is just plain wrong. Cut down on the semester tests, that last week of school before any holiday, do them the week before & use that last week for review, makeup days & go over what kids missed on tests, would help kids & parents out a lot, & also use the first week back as a refresher.

  2. Susan on September 16th, 2015 2:58 pm

    Common sense dictates that kids will loose interest in school fast when they are over tested.

  3. ProudArmyParent on September 16th, 2015 12:05 pm

    60 fewer tests and assessments this school year, you people are aware that only 180 instructional days were required by the State of Florida. That alone is a reason to have less tests! That was 3 instructional days per test they removed. If you add the 30 tests they are going to give now to the 60 they removed that is 90 tests. That was 2 instructional days per test last year.

    Ridiculous!

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News