BUY A NEW HOME
Wallkill Valley Times , Wednesday , December 7 , 2016 3
PB report card : more students are ‘ opting out ’
The Pine Bush School District “ report card ” was recently presented at a school board meeting by Donna Geidel , acting superintendent . While 88 percent of students are graduating after four years , which is above the state standard of 80 percent , mystery persists about elementary and middle school achievement . Evaluating the progress of students up to eighth grade is more challenging , as so many “ opt out ” of testing , Geidel says . While students who take the tests generally show achievement comparable to or better than state numbers , students who choose not to take state tests leave overall student achievement uncertain .
This year 20 percent of Pine Bush elementary school students and 48 percent of middle school students refused to take the state English Language Arts state tests . State math tests were refused by 25 percent of Pine Bush elementary students and 48 % of middle school students .
Those numbers show only a 1-2 percent improvement over last year , despite the state education commissioner ’ s “ Engage New York ” initiative , which includes shorter tests and unlimited time to take them . Still , testing goes on for three days , and testing questions for the next year can go on for an hour a day .
“ It ’ s not just students with lower skill levels . It ’ s become a social and societal issue to make the opt out choice . It started out with parents with strong views , and the internet fueled the movement ,” Geidel says . “ Kids see who ’ s not taking the test , and more opt out . So students are getting instruction , but they ’ re not getting practice taking tests , which is a skill in itself ,” she says . “ Parents see the tests as stressful , discouraging , and not developmentally appropriate , especially for special education students .”
To encourage students to take the exams , teachers and administrators have sent letters to parents , held parent meetings , and worked with the PTA , “ laying out the facts about the time involved ,” Geidel said .
“ Parents must send letters to opt out , and Joan Carbone wrote back ,” Geidel said . “ We ’ ll continue to advocate .”
District advocacy strategies have included emphasizing the value of the test for assessing the curriculum , so it can be revised according to what tests show its strengths and weaknesses to be , says Geidel . Tests also show how district students are progressing relative to others in the state , she said , and they are one measure of ability .
Meanwhile , the Common Core standards that were initially foisted on teachers so quickly , with brief preparation , have become more familiar to teachers , who have increasingly adapted them to their students , as implementation requirements have become less rigid .
“ The first year the curriculum was rolled out during the school year , and teachers were scrambling ,” Geidel says . “ Teachers are in a better place now , with materials to support them . Teachers are more confident making changes , updating and revising materials . “
Word for word presentation requirements have receded , and the educational value of the new standards has become more visible among students , says Geidel . The curriculum was intended to promote a shift from memorization to development of thought processes .
“ I see students engaged , having conversations among themselves and teachers , and learning at a higher level ,” Geidel says .
- Jessica Cohen
BUY A NEW HOME
BEFORE INTEREST RATES START TO RISE
LOCK IN LOW MORTGAGE RATES
30 Yr Fixed Rate Mortgage
4.250 % | 4.314 % APR
15 Yr Fixed Rate Mortgage
3.500 % | 3.606 % APR
SPEAK WITH A HOMETOWN BANKER
Whether you ’ re looking to move into your first home , move up to one that ’ s a better fit for your growing family or refinancing the one you ’ ve lived in for years , count on your friendly Hometown banker to make it happen with great low rates and fast , local decisions .
Apply at hometownbankhv . com , visit your local branch or call 800-249-3832 to schedule your appointment with one of our mortgage consultants any day of the week !
www . HometownBankHV . com
All rates and offers are as of 12 / 1 / 16 and subject to change without notice . No prepayment penalty . Loan must conform to criteria set by the bank . Other mortgage financing programs available .
Member FDIC