By Tom Jordan
The tests are used to indicate students' future success at the high school-level Regents exams, and to measure school districts against one another.
Testing will begin with the ELA on May 8 and 9. The math, science performance and a foreign language (oral) test will also be given in May. Students will take science (written), social studies, foreign language (written) and technology exams June 14 through June 18. In addition to six extra days of testing, teachers will miss time from the classroom to grade the tests. Summer recess begins on June 21.
In a statement last week, the Rockville Centre School Board was critical of the new testing schedule and of the onus additional testing will place on students and teachers.
Board member Keith Gaskell was especially displeased with the early testing dates. "Education will effectively stop on May 7," he said. "The teachers will continue to work hard, the students will continue to work hard, but you have to believe there will be an eye on the following year at that point. I do recognize the state's need to have something by which to judge the progress of students, but I don't understand the need to do it so early."
Mr. Gaskell suggested that the string of tests could be staggered by giving the math test in seventh grade. "Who needs to take all those tests in one year?" he asked. "College students get stressed during final exams, and they might have four or five to take. These kids will have eight tests."
A State Education Department spokesperson defended the need for the tests as a way to keep track of development and said that eighth grade was a key year. The results will be used to check if students are on track to meet graduation requirements. He also said that the tests cumulatively add up to only 13 hours of student time.
The math and English exams have been in place for two years. Local students have performed very well, but haven't entirely separated themselves from the downward trend evident throughout the state. Of the 260 eighth graders at South Side Middle School tested in 1999, the percentages of students meeting or exceeding Regents requirements were 70 for math and 72 for English. The percentages were 70 and 78, respectively, in 1998.
The averages for students throughout the state in 1999 were 40 for math and 45 for English, a significant drop from the 67 percent for math and 48 percent for English in 1998.
February freeze out?
School officials were also upset with the early Regents schedule state officials have planned for the 2001/2002 school year. And it could cost students their February break.
Because the first day of testing, June 21, is a week earlier than usual, the district's calendar committee has been unable to come up with a suitable arrangement that would allow for all the required instructional days, 184, as well as the mid-February break.
However, school officials said that the loss of the break would only come as a last resort and that the committee has been charged with coming up with an alternative.
Superintendent of Schools Dr. William Johnson has discussed possible changes to the exam schedule with officials from the state education department. He'd like the exams to extend into the week of June 24.
"We'd like to resolve the calendar as quickly as possible," said Mr. Gaskell. "No matter what happens now, someone's schedule will be disrupted."
