Parent:

Do you feel like standardized tests are benefitting your children in any way shape
or form? Explain.
The only benefits I see from standardized testing is that we would know which
schools are performing at a higher level than others, but this doesnt necessarily
speak to the excellence of the teachers. It could just be that those teachers are
teaching to the test and I would rather my children be learning to learn, not just
to pass a test. The other benefit I see from standardized testing is that there
would be a standard across the US, and since we are in the military we move a lot
and it would be hard if one school was going at a different pace than another. That
being said, I think that my children would excel if they were given the challenge of
being in a school that was beyond what they had learned at the last school. But
they would be bored if a school was covering something they already learnedthat
happens all the time in school now though an idea is taught and then it is retaught to make sure students understand the concept.
What do you know about your childs standardized testing?
I know that it happens at the end of the school year. I know that it does not
affect their grades. I know that it does affect the school and possibly their
funding.
What was testing like when you were school aged?
We had testing very infrequently and it was not emphasized. We would show up to
school one day and it was testing day! I remember having testing in 6 th grade and
then not again until PSAT and SATs in high school.
Does testing like this ever get you nervous? Why?
I dont get nervous except that I dont want my children to feel anxious about
these tests since they have no bearing on whether pass a grade and dont indicate
whether they are a good student or not.
What makes you like or dislike these tests?

Dislike: They are stressed too much. Teachers take too much time teaching to the
test instead of just learning!!
Like: Not much.
Do feel these tests show skills like cooperation?
No, but I also dont feel like group classwork shows cooperation either. Usually the
hardest working student does all the work and everyone else floats along.

Faculty:
Do you feel you are focusing more on teaching for the test than teaching for actual
learning?
I teach to make sure my students learn, to know they know the material.
What makes you like or dislike these tests?
There are way too many of these tests.
Learning is different for different people; these tests dont give you a broad
spectrum of peoples abilities.
How could we still make sure our students are learning without standardized tests?
Standardized assessments would be my solution, assessments given in class show
progress.
Do feel these tests show skills like cooperation?
No.

Faculty:
Do you feel you are focusing more on teaching for the test than teaching for actual
learning?
There are many classroom hours spent teaching for the test instead of going over
new material, especially at this time of year. Also on the day of tests, many
classroom hours are wasted. I have the same class in the morning as the afternoon.
I cannot move on because of this.
What makes you like or dislike these tests?
I dislike I must give this test prior to the year being complete. There will be
material missed. I dislike I have no control over what is on or how this test will be
graded. I dislike how complicated the SBAC is.
I like that it can be used as a comparison to over students in Las Vegas.
How could we still make sure our students are learning without standardized
tests?
By using standard based grading.
Do feel these tests show skills like cooperation?
No. They do not.
Staff:
Have you noticed any odd behavior during testing seasons? If so, what kinds?
I wouldnt describe it as odd but the students seem a bit calmer during the
morning time.
How do scores affect our school? Test scores affect our school in a variety of
ways. Teachers use the test results to determine the success of their teaching and
their students learning. Test results demonstrate growth in academic achievement
over time when compared to results from previous years. School-wide we use the
results to identify areas that we need to focus more on. We concentrate
professional development for our teachers in these areas and strengthen the
curriculum materials we use to teach those standards/skills. The State uses test
results to rank our schools effectiveness.
What makes you like or dislike these tests? I like tests because they give us
valuable information. I dislike tests because they take up much instructional time
to administer.
Do you stress to teachers how much testing is important to schools? Yes, we do.
Do feel these tests show skills like cooperation? No, I dont.

Staff:
Have you noticed any odd behavior during testing seasons? If so, what kinds?
Students tend to be more tired and irritable.
How do scores affect our school? scores are important because they show how well
students are learning, in which helps the school to become better in their teaching.
What makes you like or dislike these tests? I do not believe students should be
tested on information they have not learned prior to testing, nor should they have
to cram information in order to take the tests.
Do you stress to teachers how much testing is important to schools? yes
Faculty:
Because I put a lot of conscious effort into teaching to all content standards
all year, I find that I dont spend a lot of time teaching to the test.
However, as we get closer to test time, I do put more focus on specific skills
that I feel are deficient. That said, I dont feel that teaching to the test
is contrary to learning. I believe that learning happens with engagement. If
students are involved in activities, it doesnt matter whether theyre testspecific tasks.
What makes you like or dislike these tests?
Tests are stressful for students and teachers. For the students, they fear
that if they do poorly, it will be a reflection on them personally. For
teachers, there is the Pay for Performance element. This means that the
higher students score on tests, the more their teacher gets paid.
How could we still make sure our students are learning without standardized tests?
With pre and posttests, frequent benchmark exams, and creative assessments,
teachers can tell whether students are learning. Create has been added to
the top of Maslows Hierarchy of Needs. This means that creation is the
highest level of thinking. If students can create unique evidence of concepts,
then they have learned those concepts.
Do feel these tests show skills like cooperation?
Standardized tests do not demonstrate cooperation skills. I see that the
Smarter Balance attempted to utilize cooperation in their classroom activity.
However, the notes created from that activity were not allowed to be used on
the related exam, and no further cooperation was asked of students.

In respect of these teachers, staff members, and parents we will not be displaying
names.