Written by Shanna Kelly
Thursday, 21 January 2016 10:51
The recent rise in standardized testing has caused WHS administration to consider eliminating or changing midterm exams. Two years ago, a survey assessing teachers’ opinions about the value of midterms found that 67 percent of teachers favored keeping midterm exams. Now, with PARCC adding standardized testing time to the school schedule, the Council, a committee of teachers and administration, are reconsidering changing or removing midterms in the future.
Last month, a survey was sent out to all staff members about the impact of midterms on instructional time. So far, the results have not been published to the staff. Assistant Principal Ms. Mary Asfendis said, “If there was enough interest in continuing the discussion about changing the exam structure, it would be something that would take a significant amount of time to change.”
By state law, school districts must accommodate standardized tests, but midterms and finals are administered at school discretion.
The results of this survey will determine the possibility of changing exams, according to Asfendis. Social Studies Teacher Mr. Daniel Farabaugh said that if the change does not happen in the first couple of years of PARCC, then it most likely will not happen because the school will acclimate more and more to these standardized tests. In several years, Farabaugh said, it will be significantly harder to make a worthy claim against midterm exams.
Thursday, 21 January 2016 10:51
The recent rise in standardized testing has caused WHS administration to consider eliminating or changing midterm exams. Two years ago, a survey assessing teachers’ opinions about the value of midterms found that 67 percent of teachers favored keeping midterm exams. Now, with PARCC adding standardized testing time to the school schedule, the Council, a committee of teachers and administration, are reconsidering changing or removing midterms in the future.
Last month, a survey was sent out to all staff members about the impact of midterms on instructional time. So far, the results have not been published to the staff. Assistant Principal Ms. Mary Asfendis said, “If there was enough interest in continuing the discussion about changing the exam structure, it would be something that would take a significant amount of time to change.”
By state law, school districts must accommodate standardized tests, but midterms and finals are administered at school discretion.
The results of this survey will determine the possibility of changing exams, according to Asfendis. Social Studies Teacher Mr. Daniel Farabaugh said that if the change does not happen in the first couple of years of PARCC, then it most likely will not happen because the school will acclimate more and more to these standardized tests. In several years, Farabaugh said, it will be significantly harder to make a worthy claim against midterm exams.