PARENTS and TESTING: Myth or Reality (What they really think)

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PARENTS and TESTINGMyth or Reality(What they
really think)

• Presenter David Bryant, Parent Liaison Division
  of Accountability Services, NCDPI
• 2008 Accountability Conference
• February 11-13, 2008

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Introduction

• This session will provide the opportunity for
  participants to gain insight into the world of
  testing from the parents perspective.
• How differing state and local policies create
  confusion
• What parents view as myths versus reality in the
  local school districts
• Review of North Carolina General Statutes and SBE
  policies
• Available resources to help address their concerns

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Frustrated
Angry
Resentful
Stressed
Confused
Grateful
Anxious
Understanding
Satisfied
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Sources of Inquiries

• Telephone
• E-mail
• Letters
• State Superintendents Office
• State Board of Education
• NCDPIs Main Switchboard
• Legislators (State and Federal)

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Protocol for Responding to Parent Calls

• Know that you may not be able to accurately
  ascertain the callers actual identity.
• Limit your comments to questions designed to help
  you understand the details of their concern.
• Assure them that you are hearing their concerns
  but also understand that the caller may not have
  complete information or may not provide you with
  all the details.
• Remain neutral in your comments.

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Protocol for Responding to Parent Calls

• Encourage the caller to work through the
  leadership structure in their school and school
  system.
• Many calls involve issues that are local and over
  which the Department of Public Instruction does
  not have authority.
• Examples Student school assignment, student
  grades and placement, student discipline, local
  policies regarding promotion and retention
  decisions and the like.
• After screening information, direct the caller to
  the appropriate division within the agency.
• If the caller says that he or she has tried to
  engage the leadership structure in their school
  or school system without success, offer to share
  the callers concerns with the local school
  district.

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Protocol for Responding to Parent Calls

• Make no promises
• Share the concern with the appropriate local
  school district superintendents office.
• When responding to parents or guardians, be sure
  to provide contact information that includes your
  name and title.

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Available Resources

• State Board of Education policies
• North Carolina General Statutes
• Division of Accountability Services
• The For Parents website
• Testing Policy and Operations
• Regional Accountability Coordinators (RACs)
• Local Test Coordinators
• Division of Exceptional Children
• Policy, Monitoring and Audit
• Dispute Resolution Consultants

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Typical questions or comments

• Will my son/daughter fail if they dont pass the
  test?
• Why cant they be promoted if they have
  maintained an A/B report card all year?
• Can I see the test so I can help my child do
  better?
• They told me I cant see the test.
• Can I see my childs writing paper?

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Typical questions or comments

• They said the State Department said.
• Why do they have to take the course over because
  they failed the test?
• My child cant go to college because of that
  _at__at_ competency test.
• Theyre just teaching to the test.

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Whats myth or reality for parents and students?

• All students must score level III to be promoted.
• Promotion/retention is based on a single test
  score
• Any student not scoring level III must go to
  summer school.
• Principals not allowed to make promotion
  decisions
• Teachers are teaching to the test.
• Students with disabilities must take the same
  test.
• Tests cant be viewed by the public.
• Students must pass the competency to receive a
  diploma.

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Why cant they be promoted if they have
maintained an A/B report card all year?

• Curriculum pacing
• Delivery of curriculum content
• Rigor
• Teacher experience
• Student retention

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Will my son/daughter fail if they dont pass the
test?

• Review Procedures for Promotion Requests
  (HSP-N-005)
• Students shall be given retest no later than
  three weeks from receipt of results.
• Teachers or parents may request a promotion for
  students after the second or third test.
• Teachers shall provide documentation
• Student work samples, other test data,
  information supplied by parents, for students
  with disabilities, information that is included
  in IEP, and other information that verifies that
  a student is at grade level.
• Students not promoted after the second or third
  administration shall be given focused
  intervention.
• The LEA shall appoint a committee to review
  student promotion requests. The principal makes
  the final decision regarding promotion.
• Note There are parents unaware of the review
  process.

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Local Accountability Procedures(SBE Policy
HSP-N-006 )

• Promotion decisions shall be made according to
  local policy and discretion
• Shall include statewide student accountability
  standards
• Local Board of Education shall adopt procedures
  to ensure that students are treated fairly
• Policy shall recognize the authority of the
  principal to make promotion decisions
• Local Board of Education policies shall be
  consistent with statewide student accountability
  policies
• Shall include notification and involvement of
  parents and agreement of parental expectations
  signed by parents
• School districts shall provide focused
  intervention to all students who do not meet
  statewide student accountability standards
• NC standardized high school transcript shall
  certify a level of proficiency in high school
  courses through both grades and test scores

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Can I see the test so I can help my child do
better?They told me I cant see the test

• (Process for Stakeholders to View Secure Test
  Materials)
• Request directed to NCDPI Test Development
  Section Chief.
• Stakeholder contacted by staff member to set
  review date
• May not view secure materials at the district or
  school site
• Secure test materials include, but are not
  limited to
• Test blueprints test layout forms item pools
  operational or field test books, test questions,
  or test book sections operational, field test,
  or make-up writing prompts answer documents and
  test administrator manuals.
• If the stakeholder is a parent they will be
  informed
• The test will be a parallel and equivalent form
  of the test, but not necessarily the same test
  form
• The parent will not be able to view childs
  completed answer document or actual test book.
• The completed test books and answer documents are
  maintained at the district level and are securely
  destroyed soon after the test administrations are
  completed.

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• (Process for Stakeholders to View Secure Test
  Materials)
• Stakeholder may take notes on information shared
  prior to viewing the secure test materials, no
  note taking is permitted during the actual
  viewing.
• Prior to viewing secure test materials, the
  stakeholder is required to read and sign a test
  security agreement form.
• While viewing secure test materials, the
  stakeholder may not duplicate, scan, copy,
  photograph, or otherwise create a record of
  information contained within the secure test
  materials.

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Can I see my childs writing paper?

• Confidentiality of Student Scores (Writing)
• Note The following information is based on The
  Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act
  (FERPA).
• Schools are not to send home copies of the
  student writing responses.
• If schools print copies of students actual
  written responses to the test, the copies should
  be placed in the students cumulative folder and
  should not be sent home with the student score
  reports.
• Parents may view their childs writing at the
  school.
• If a parent requests a copy of their childs
  writing, schools should require written
  permission from the parent prior to releasing the
  actual writing.
• The parent letter of request should be kept at
  the school as documentation.

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Why do they have to take the course over because
they failed the test?

• (Graduation Requirements and High School Exit
  Standards)
• Students entering the ninth grade for the first
  time in 2006-2007 and beyond will be required to
  meet new High School Exit Standards.
• Students entering ninth grade prior to 2006-2007,
  EOCs are to count 25 of the students final
  grade.
• Whats myth or reality for parents and students?
• Local policies require students to score Level
  III who entered ninth grade prior to 2006-07.
• Level III cut scores made higher for students in
  honor classes.

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What This Means

• Better communication
• Distribution of state and local policies
• Access to local policies
• Information in student handbook
• Direct parents to websites for information
• Available resources
• Staffing for focused intervention
• Scheduling
• Programs

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QUESTIONS
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Contact Information

• David Bryant
• Parent Liaison/Education Consultant
• Accountability Services Division
• Help Desk 919-807-3775 or 1-800-431-7373
• E-mail dbryant_at_dpi.state.nc.us or
• End-of-Grade-Testing_at_dpi.state.nc.us
• Web Address For Parents
• http//www.ncpublicschools.org/accountability/pare
  nts/