NASHVILLE – One consequence of overhauling the state’s school achievement testing system has been a delay in test results that has put a number of schools and students in limbo this year.
For one thing, schools that have failed to meet testing requirements more than two years in a row must offer students the option to transfer to other schools or give them access to tutoring.
The Tennessean reports the state got permission to delay the transfer option this year, but that permission did not come until after school had started in most districts. As a result, some districts offered to transfer students based on 2009 scores. When the 2010 scores are released – likely in November – they may have to offer a second round of transfers mid-school year.
“I do think that could be disruptive,” said Metro Nashville Director of Schools Jesse Register.
Also being disrupted is funding for failing schools. Those that are slated for corrective action face penalties but also receive $300,000 and the ability to hire new staff and make curriculum changes.
State officials said they are already working with failing schools to address some long-standing problems. Some of that work is being done with a $500 million federal grant the state won in March to reform public education.
State Education Commissioner Tim Webb has asked the federal government to grant the state a yearlong grace period to make the transition to the new testing system so Tennessee won’t have to begin the massive reform that will likely come with lower test scores all at once.
Webb wants the state to continue working with schools that are already classified as “high priority” because of failing test scores, but he is asking the federal government to not add new schools to the list or increase penalties during the grace period.
Justin Cohen, president of The School Turnaround Strategy Group at Mass Insight Education, said states shouldn’t wait for test scores before beginning work in struggling schools. Indicators like attendance and student growth can be used to identify which schools have problems and those problems should begin to be addressed immediately.
“At the point you determine a school is in that level of systemic failure, you have to be ready to start implementing tough solutions,” Cohen said.
Metro Nashville Schools Director Register said he is hoping new districtwide reforms like increasing the number of academic coaches and improving training for principals and teachers will help struggling schools during their wait for test scores.
Metro parent David Kern said he believes a lot of the disruption could have been avoided had Tennessee gradually reformed schools and the testing system rather than trying to do it in the span of a single year.
“The state is looking at the long term and what’s good in the long term, but not in the short term – what’s good for our students now,” he said. “And many students are suffering because of the state doing it all in one step.”
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Information from: The Tennessean, http://www.tennessean.com