By Hector Flores and Laura Lane
In recent years, only fourth- and eighth-graders had to take state exams in English Language Arts and math. Starting next year, students will have to take the tests annually in grades three through eight.
School administrators said the new battery of tests will increase school spending and diminish class time for creative activities. They said, however, that they expect local elementary students to meet the new standards.
subhed: The new requirements
Sheldon Dumain, the Bellmore School District superintendent, said the No Child Left Behind Act requires the new tests. In fact, for a district to receive federal aid, it must now offer state tests in grades three through eight.
The exams measure how ready students are for the next grade. The scores, however, will not determine whether a child should move up. The tests are also intended to identify children who need extra help, as well as measure the effectiveness of each school's academic program.
In addition to the ELA and math tests, there will be three other tests given. Fourth-graders will receive a test in science; fifth-graders, social studies; and eighth-graders, science and social studies, with an optional test in technology.
Marilyn Johnson, the North Bellmore School District's assistant superintendent for instruction, said the ELA tests will be given in January, the math test in March, the social studies test in November and the science test in May.
The amount of time that will be spent taking the tests will depend on the grade. For example, fourth- and sixth-graders will spend three sessions taking the ELA tests, while third- and fifth-graders will spend two sessions. A session will last 30 to 90 minutes.
"People are upset with the additional tests," Dumain said. "Time in the classroom is very precious for all teachers, and anything that takes away from their time is questionable."
But the superintendent noted, "If the tests show the right type of information, then we can use them to see how well children are doing."
It's estimated that the new tests will cost the Bellmore district $30,000. The cost covers instruction, grading, substitute teachers, personnel support and training.
Johnson expects the North Bellmore district to spend $20,000 alone for teachers to score tests and have substitute teachers in the classrooms. She believes, however, that offering state tests in grades other than four won't be too difficult.
"Our fourth-graders have been successful in taking the tests," she said. "We'll share the same strategies used in the fourth grade with the other grades. We started preparing for the fourth-grade test in kindergarten. When the fourth-grade test first came in, we said that every teacher is a fourth-grade teacher."
In addition to early preparation in the elementary schools, Christine Augusto, principal of the Intermediate Center at Shore Road in Bellmore, said both districts have used other standardized tests, such as the Test of New York State Standards and the Iowa Test of Basic Skills, to prepare for the New York state ELA and math tests in fourth and eighth grades.
According to Augusto, the TONYSS and Iowa tests were given to grades three, five and six. They were also used to track a child's progress.
Augusto explained that the state Education Department provides samples of the new tests to teachers to help them get their students ready for the exams.
Johnson said, "Before the state tests, the district always used some standardized test to monitor children's progress and help plan instruction. Now with the new state tests, we will be able to use them instead."
Fran Bennett, principal of Saw Mill Road in North Bellmore, added that in order to make her school's transition smoother, teachers are working to align the curriculum with the new exam standards. "What we are teaching is what is being assessed," she said. "If our instruction is aligned with the state's, we are confident that we will do well."
She added that when her teachers looked at the sample tests, they realized that much of what is being tested has already been done. "Our teachers feel very confident," Bennett said. "It's almost an affirmation of what we are doing is good instruction."
Tests' new format
The ELA test will include reading, listening and writing. The reading passages will test comprehension. Children will find answers by reading literary selections from short stories and poetry, as well as informational text like autobiographies and essays.
The listening section will test comprehension by having students answer questions after hearing a story.
The tests' reading and listening sections are similar to what was asked of students on past state exams. But the writing section has changed. Students in third, fifth and seventh grades will have to edit paragraphs that contain errors in capitalization, punctuation, grammar and usage. This replaces the independent writing questions, which on prior state ELA tests required children to write stories. But children will still have to write their answers to questions to exhibit an understanding of the material, and interpret and analyze the text.
Although the state has not finalized the mathematics test and not yet sent samples to administrators, a format has been provided, and will include multiple-choice, short-response and extended-response questions.
Short- and extended-response questions require students to write and answer questions, and show their work. In some cases, they are required to explain how they arrived at an answer.
To do well on the state mathematics tests, students will need to know and apply facts and definitions, read and interpret graphs and tables, and explain and justify methods used to solve problems.
Comments about this story? HFlores@liherald.com or (516) 569-4000 ext. 283.
