[kelceesmom]

So, in the state that I live in the schools have competancy testing. Do you believe this is right? Some children choke under pressure and will do poorly what do you do about that? Let's here your opinions on the subject.

[bajj]

I can see the whole idea behind this, and why some people feel it is necessary. However, I feel it puts way too much pressure on the kids. Our kids do not pass 3rd grade and do not graduate from High School if they do not pass the state test in those grades. It's way too much pressure for one test.

I personally never tested well as a kid. I would make straight A's, know the subject, and still bomb the standardized tests.

I think it's not good for the teacher's either. Instead of getting to teach their curriculum, a lot of times they are teaching the test, and teaching to memorize things on the test.

There has got to be a better way, I just don't know what that is!

[mrsred]

The No child Left Behind act was another example of our government getting a good idea and messing it up with beuracracy./ It is federally mandated that every state has to have competency tests, and that students have to pass these tests in order to graduate. Also, the schools are judged according to whether or not students are passing the tests. So a school that does not meet the federal standards will be given extra support and money, and can eventually be "taken over" byt the district. The districts that fail can be "taken over" by the state. If a child is failing and the school is failing the state has to pay for the child to get special tutoring. Because of this, a signifiacant portion of federal funds are set aside to cover this eventuality. So, in other words they have less money to work with to do more than they were expected to do before.
Another irony in the entire No Child Left Behind fiasco is that although each state must have standardized competency testing, there is NO standard! So one state may look really good because a higher number of their children are passing the tests simply because thier tests are easier.
I am just happy my children are not graduating till 2014 and later, byt then this should all have self destructed.

[ptglmn]

I agree with mrsred completely. I am a teacher in a Program Improvement District. That means we haven't met our goal in a few years. One of our schools is in year 4 or 5 of Program Improvement. That comes with serious ramifications. I agree that many students don't test well. In my district we have over 60% English Language Learners. To ask them to pass the test in English at young ages (3-6th grades, maybe higher depending on how long they have been in the country) is asking a bit much. Many of these students want to do well, as do their parents. Unfortunately, many of these parents have only achieved an 8th grade education at best. They do what they can, but they work in the fields all day and can't help their children with their homework. There has to be a better way.

Hmm... maybe spending less money on prisons and more on education would be a win-win for all.

In most states, parents can opt their child out of the testing. Many district dicourage this, because if too many students opt out of the test, the district doesn't meet the federal and/or state mandates.