Hooray! Connecticut State Mastery Tests Trump Student Safety…

Mar 07

jonpeltoStandardized Testing CMT 11 Comments

No school cancellations, only 90 minute school delays, despite treacherous driving conditions and more snow expected:

WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY REMAINS IN EFFECT FROM 7 AM THIS MORNING TO 1 PM EST FRIDAY; SNOW ACCUMULATION OF 3 TO 6 INCHES. TIMING…SNOW WILL DEVELOP THIS MORNING WITH THE BULK OF THE ACCUMULATING SNOW TONIGHT INTO FRIDAY MORNING.

But rest assured – these kids will take these CMTs even if we have to lose a few of them on the way to school…

Meanwhile, up the road in Tolland:

“A tractor trailer crash closed the east bound lanes of I-84 in Tolland this morning. The crash occurred between Exits 68 and 69. One FedEx tractor trailer crashed over the Jersey barrier, blocking the eastbound lanes and reducing traffic on the westbound side. Not too far away another FedEx truck rolled onto its side near a highway off-ramp. At least two passenger cars were involved as well, and were taken away on flatbed tow-trucks. At least one ambulance was seen leaving the scene of the crash, but we don’t know if anyone has been injured in any of the accidents. There are treacherous driving conditions from there towards Union. State police say the conditions are dangerous and there have been numerous accidents.”

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msavage

I know, right? I wondered about the wisdom of the decision made this morning.
Lehrer

Actually, I think the decision was made to maiximize school days, seeing that tomorrow will probably be a snow day in most hill towns. THE CMTs in my district will not be administered today, but on the first make-up day.
- jonpelto
  
  That’s interesting – so they had school but postponed the cmts? I didn’t think they could do that…good for them.
  
  Sent from my BlackBerry please excuss typos
  - Charlie Puffers
    
    I believe the way it works is that there are fixed dates for some sections of the test. For example, the writing prompt must be given on the same date to all students in the state of CT. This is supposed to prevent cheating. Yesterday was a fixed date for the CAPT but not the CMT.
  - jonpelto
    
    Thanks – now I get it…
    
    So if it had been the day of the writing prompt it would have been a problem for the elementary and middle school but since yesterday was CAPT day it wasn’t a problem for them, but it would have been a problem the high school. Earlier in the week for writing prompt day… Hopefully day there are no “have tos” in elementary, middle or high school…
Apartheid First

Windham cannot even spare a 90-minute or even 60-minute delay (I am sure that the Windhams were icy). NO, CMTs must dictate our lives.
Speaking of which, in his most Kingly and my-way-or-the-highway mood, Adamowski rewrote Windham’s school calendar last year–remember, maximum school days UNTIL CMTs (only one day off in Feb for President’s Day). Then “Spring Break” in March; then, maybe field trips, a few more standardized test pilots, but, there’s not reason to teach anything new or exciting because–it’s not on the test!
However, in his lack of wisdom, Adamowski has made it so everyone is now exhausted and sick of CMT prep, CMT tests, and CMT post-tests… but, if the district needs to give make-ups, they have to do it soon because “March Break” will unfortunately cut into the time for giving make-ups to children who are out sick with the flu, having surgery, or ill with the overwhelming anxiety of test, test, test. Talk about poor planning.
I also wonder if expulsions and suspensions–here and elsewhere–are experiencing an up-tick as building administrators “weed out” those who threaten the test scores…. I recall that Adamowski is fond of the “take no attendance” during test week,,,
Andi

Jon, as a BoE chair who has the responsibility for
calling school, I have to take exception to today’s blog and give credit where
credit is due. Our district is in the
hills of Northeast CT. We did not close
school today but operated under a two-hour delay. CMTs were not a determining factor as our
principal planned ahead and changed the
schedule to accommodate the potential for the snow storm. Our 2-man road
crew was prepared to go out early to
ensure that the roads were clear so that students would be able to safely
attend school. The principal, road crew
foreman and I had our give and take on
road conditions and collaborated on contingency plans. These are skills and that the CMTs will never
measure.
- msavage
  
  You make the call as the board chair? That’s fairly unusual, isn’t it? I think in most districts the supt. makes the call. I know that’s how it is in Hebron. Are you a paid BOE chair? Just curious.
- Apartheid First
  
  I sure wouldn’t trust the BoE chair to make calls of this nature.
  Definitely risky.
- jonpelto
  
  Thank you for your input and with that information, I’d like to amend what I said. I’m not so sure that some of the other towns were as honorable in their decision making but clearly from your description there were towns that handled it the right way..
  
  Considering how things cleared up, you not only made the decision you thought best but it worked out fine.
  
  That said, I honestly believe that there were towns whose decision making was influenced by the CMTs but hopefully I’m wrong there too.
  
  Finally, one of these days we’ll have to check, but I’ve been told that individual towns do not have the authority to change the days they take the tests. Yours is not the first town I’ve heard of that changed dates, and while I think towns should have that authority, I’m wondering whether they do or not.
  
  If towns could do that on their own, more would figure out that all they need to do is change their writing prompt test day 24 hours and — bingo – all their kids get to know what the super-secret writing prompt is this year…
  
  Imagine the chaos.
andi

I flunked yesterday’s writing prompt without the luxury of being able to use bolding or italics to highlight key words leading to the main theme. Point #1 – not everyone bows to the gods of CMTs. Point #2 – CMTs cannot measure some of the most important aspects of critical thinking and decision-making such as preparation, early intervention, information gathering, collaboration, and finally, contingency planning. The beauty of a 2-hour delay is that at 1.5 hours, if the roads are not good, your contingency plan is to close for the day. Thank you Jon for noting that the snow did stop and the sun did come out.
@msavage, at some point in the past, the BoE had a part-time Supt. that lived in another part of the state. It was thought by the BoE that it was prudent to have someone in town, who could see first-hand the conditions, consult with the road crew forman, and if necessary drive the road themselves to ensure that they are safe. And no, I am not a paid chair, but in a small system, we all have to give more.

Wait, What?