Polson schools discuss assessment testing
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POLSON — School districts are asking whether teaching the content of federally mandated testing is the best approach for education, and a discussion surrounding the national topic will take place at the Polson School District board meeting Monday Jan. 11.
Tessa Nunlist, student representative, said the school performed fairly well in the Smarter Balanced Assessment testing for Language Arts.
“I’m surprised at how well we did,” said Nunlist.
The Smarter Balanced Assessment is a newer test that students in grades three through eight and 11 took for the first time last spring that aligned with the Common Core standards.
“It is federally mandated that states assess their students,” said Bill Appleton, the curriculum director for the Polson School District.
Superintendent, Dr. Linda Reksten, gave a report on how Indian students in the district had scored on the Smarter Balanced Assessment. Scores were separated out to see how the district was doing in comparison to other districts. Reksten said that Polson had scored above all other Montana reservations and that they were working so that Indian students came within 10 percent of the rest of the student population. The district has 1,600 students of which 38 percent are Indian students.
A conversation ensued about what constituted “proficiency” for the test and how the school was assessing itself. It was debated whether it was subjective in some sense because there was no “right” answer or “wrong” answer. It was noted that students must have strong computer skills to do well. Scores for the testing were seen as a baseline for future testing. Each student receives an individualized report that is sent home.
One member of the public said that it’s frustrating to get scores in January and the students are supposed to take the tests again in April or May, noting that it’s not enough time to correct any teaching.
A growing pain was the challenge of explaining to students why the testing was important. Testing like the ACT is easier to explain to older kids because money is hanging on the test for college scholarships, another audience member said.
“It would be nice if kids could get an answer on what this test achieves,” Nunlist added.
On Dec. 21, Denise Juneau, Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction announced that high school juniors would no longer take the Smarter Balanced Assessment test because they can take the ACT instead for free.
In other business, the board got a sneak peak of the presentation that faculty and the Superintendent will be making to the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribal Council for Impact Aid funding. The board also heard an update on the recent job posting for the Superintendent’s position and the new Internet and phone bid that was accepted from Ronan Telephone Company.
