Every April, Aragon students fill in the customary bubble sheets known as STAR tests, anticipating brunch muffins and lunchtime raffles as they answer the questions. Whether deplored, accepted, or simply tolerated, STAR tests are a familiar part of spring at Aragon.
However, this year’s April may be the last to see the traditional Math, English, History and Science STAR tests. California Superintendent Tom Torlakson has proposed a large scale restructuring of state testing. If the proposal is passed by the state legislature, STAR tests will disappear, to be replaced by new tests designed by the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium, starting in the 2014-2015 school year.
These testing changes are a response to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS), a new series of educational guidelines that California, along with 44 other states, has adopted. The CCSS adds a focus on literacy and critical thinking to California’s state standards. Cynthia Clark, director of curriculum and assessment for the San Mateo Union High School District, says, “You will see much more writing… across the curriculum.”
The new tests will represent a departure from the customary #2 pencils and erasers of STAR testing. Instead, the tests will be largely computer-based. If computerized testing were implemented, Assistant Principal Jim Coe says, “It would have to be kind of a rolling two or three week period of time where students would [be] brought in on a particular day [or] a particular period to take the test.”
In addition, the new tests will reduce the number of multiple choice questions, replacing them with student responses and short answer. Sophomore Lillian Bahribek says, “[Short answer] shows more of what you know, but multiple choice is easier, because it kind of narrows down your answer.” Junior Dogukan Ucan would rather have multiple choice tests. He says, “Multiple choice questions are good because, basically, they test if you directly know it, because there’s only one answer. With a short answer, it can be interpreted many different ways.”
If Torlakson’s proposal is passed into law, starting next year, the number of students who have to take state tests will decrease. In high school, only 11th graders will be required to take math and english standardized testing. Clark says, “[Junior] year is critical because you’ve now had three years of instruction. So you should have an idea of whether students are ready for college or career.”
Science standardized tests may also be given to 10th graders only. The California High School Exit Examination (CAHSEE) may also be discontinued.
Freshman Jacob Garrison suggests that underclassman take practice tests and says, “If you practice it you have a better idea of what you need to know and what you don’t need to know.”
The California Department of Education Assessment Division says that the CCSS encourages the critical thinking skills required for colleges and universities. Ucan says, “Critical thinking will apply to you more in daily life, so I think that’s more important to test than straight facts.”
Principal Pat Kurtz thinks that the changes to state standards and testing are positive. Kurtz says, “It creates more of a team concept as we look at teaching now.” Clark adds, “It’s a very exciting time for education. For teachers, [education is] no longer so memory [oriented] and by rote. It’s more creative.”
Aragon departments are also adapting to the new standards. Andrea Gould, math teacher and District Math Coordinator, says, “The standards for mathematics are about how students use mathematics and not just learning more rote skills like [the ones] you use in elementary school. But actually how to be a user and consumer of mathematics, and standards are built around that.”
Initially, the Advanced Placement (AP) math classes will be less affected. AP Calculus BC Teacher Rich Serrao says, “We’ll try to do lower classes first. Eventually Common Core may have more of an effect on the AP classes.”
Holly Dietz, English Teacher and District English Coordinator, describes the effect on the English curriculum and says, “[The curriculum will be] a little bit more skill based than content based… I love the idea that state assessments will be more complex than simple multiple choice tests.” On the other hand, Social Studies Teacher Cristina Trujillo says, “I think a lot of the Common Core Standards are already done in some way in most social studies classes. They’re just things we logically do.”
The future of state testing is still largely uncertain. The new tests, if they are approved by the state legislature, will not go into effect until the 2014-2015 school year. Gould says, “The unknown about what CAHSEE’s going to be replaced with is up in the air.” Kurtz says, “It should be interesting. We’re all waiting.”
