If it's May it must be testing time, and in North Carolina that has become a time of confusion and stress. The tests, the grading and the way the results are used seem to change like the weather.
Parent Amy Wlodyka sent me the testing schedule she got from Providence High, accompanied by a note from the principal: "It is different than in previous years due to NC testing requirements and how much time has to be given for each individual exam. You will notice that A/B day exams are being given the week of Memorial Day. You will also notice there are 2 days in the middle of exam week which are regular school days. June 4 and 5 are Religious Holidays recognized by CMS and exams are not permitted to be given. Since those are regular school days, all classes will meet and attendance will be taken in each class."
She and I had the same reaction: What religious holiday? Thank goodness for the internet: It's apparently the Jewish celebration of Shavuot, which marks the giving of the Torah on Mount Sinai and is also linked to harvest season.
The real question, of course, is how teachers and students are going to handle an exam schedule broken up by two days of regular classes.
"Teachers will NOT be allowed to review since testing has begun," emailed recently retired teacher George Walker. "What will teachers do for two days? What impact will it have on scores since two extra days have passed since review? To teachers this is two days wasted at a time of the year where a lot is at stake. ... It seems silly and hypocritical to have class during a supposed religious observation but not allow the schools to operate once the kids arrive."
What else are you hearing about this year's exams?
We know, of course, that this is the year North Carolina plans to break with its longstanding four-point scale for state exams, with Levels 1 and 2 failing and Levels 3 and 4 passing. On the new five-point scale, a Level 3 (passing) covers what used to be a high level 2, increasing the number who will be labeled on grade level and reducing the number of third-graders will be forced to take summer school or face retention under the Read to Achieve act.
I've heard some questions about whether the state will bring back mandatory retesting. As you may recall, for a couple of years the state required that students who earned Level 2s on their first try take a new version of the exam a few days later. That ended last year because scoring was delayed on new exams. This year, I'm told that there will be no retesting except for third-graders who fail reading.
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