05/9/2012:
"teachers need to stop teaching to the test we need more critical thinking
skills!
"
03/29/2012:
"My sister is currently a student at Sylmar High School in California and
they have informed her that in order to pass high school, she will have to
perform well on the CST's. I know that the CAHSEE is needed but the CST's
are only to assess a child's skills correct? I only ask because this
school has been known to lie before in order to "encourage" the students
to perform better.
"
01/30/2012:
"I would like to ask that even your only grade6 in the philippines then
you have not finish it and you have no any records that will be submitted
in your school is it ok that you could proceed in high school provided you
have past the exam.? pls. response "
01/23/2012:
"In the second paragraph, second line, of the section copied below, the
author of the article spelled "principle" incorrectly.
Ed. Note: Thank you for this note. We've checked this and it appears to be
spelled and used correctly, in its adjective form meaning "most
important."
"
11/28/2011:
"I've been told that CST scores go down from second to third grade, go back
up in fourth grade, and, again, go down in fifth grade. Is this true
across the state?
"
11/21/2011:
"I am a student in Fontana, Ca,and I believe this test, the CST, is great
for the reasons being: 1. It measures how much the student has learned, 2.
How good the school's curriculum is. And 3. How well the teachers execute
their jobs. By the way the tests are not very hard.
"
10/7/2011:
"I am hoping to know how relevant the reading list level is and how it is
determined.
I have a 5th grader who scored 600/600 in both Math and English for 3
years in a row, 1200 each year from 2nd to 4th. She also scored 100% on
her 4th grade Writing Application score.
Yet, her reading list level is 9. It was 7(2nd grade), 8(3rd grade), then
9(4th grade).
It looks to me that it just goes up by 1 every year.
The reading level list doesn't mean much to me, since my daughter has read
well over 3,000 books already. Yet, I am just wondering who gets the level
13+ and how.
"
08/24/2011:
"As for perfect scores, it's quite common at our school. I have 7 students
with perfect scores in math and 3 in language arts.
"
08/23/2011:
"I, too am proud of my second grader. He scored perfect in math and he got
a 525 in english language arts. He scored perfect on all sections of the
test except literary reading and analysis where he got an 83%. He is
African American and attends a Title 1 school in a crime-infested and
impoverished community...
"
08/22/2011:
"My child is in second grade and just received perfect scores on both math
and language arts. Just like us, the school couldn't be prouder of him.
:) "
08/18/2011:
"When will the parents receive CST results for 2011?
"
03/21/2011:
"What happens if you need to take your child out of school the week of STAR
testing to visit an elderly family member out of state? Can the test be
done early or made up after returning? Thank you to anyone who answers! :)"
03/7/2011:
"I have a 20 year old and an 18 year old..They have both completed high
school. My 18 (4.0)year old graduated last June & walked on stage last
June on her older Sister's Birthday..Her older sister (3.8) had passed
the literature the first time around but, even though she received A's in
Geometry, Algebra etc, taken the test 5 times, missing by between 1-3
points each time. (She'll be taking the test for the sixth time next
week). She missed by 1 point on last November's test. The Cahsee is a
crock of crap. She has friends who passed both math and Literature the
first time...Friends who can't even speak fluent english & spell worse
than a 6year old. I think some of the schools 'fix' the tests. If a kid
works their butt off academically and earns the credits needed to graduate
there sould be nothing holding them back from walking across that stage. I
am so sick of seeing this happen to so many kids.....Somebody needs to do
something!!"
03/2/2011:
"my grandaughter is a senior in High School, she has taken the Cahsee math
test at least six times, missing 2 questions and missing it by 1, she is
waiting for her February results which is April, this is rediculous. If
they are basing her future on the test, then why bother going to School?
until she passes the math we can't even make any arrangements for Her
Graduation 06/2011. is there anything that can be done?"
01/10/2011:
"There was a kid named Jessica Paige Waybright who got perfect scores on
the CST."
08/30/2010:
"I would love to know how many kids get perfect scores on their STAR tests,
too. My daughter who will be in 4th grade has gotten 600 on her math and
600 on her English for 2 years in a row.
My friends who taught in LAUSD told me that they'd never seen it
before....So, I am a bit curious...."
08/10/2010:
"How many kids get a perfect score on the star tests each year?"
02/4/2010:
"Could someone help me understand how is the math cst scores broken? How
is each item weighted?
Thank you,
Frank"
09/18/2009:
"After reviewing, I agree with 8/19/2009 comments. This could be contributed
to the middle and high schools lack of ‘required participation from the
parent’ and ‘the school’s lack of informing parents on student
issues’.
On another note, regarding comment of 6/8/2009, most of us know there is
usually an underlining issue that causes such behavior. Your negative
comments towards these students or any others indicate your disregard
towards teaching. Being a 23-year veteran parent, I was fortunate enough to
have wonderful instructors that inspired my children to continue through
college and be successful in life. Realizing children hold different views;
our formula was to adapt learning to their needs. Oops, meaning, most
disruptive students require more work, an instructor and family who is
willing to help them academically succeed in life!
To all the parents who make negative comments about the education system or
excuses why my student did not pass a test. Children and teens feel that
negative energy and tunnel it at school. Maybe you need to go back and look
at what can you do to help your child succeed in school. Refocus negative
to positive attitude. Remember, no one is perfect, including the education
system.
Peace out…
"
09/18/2009:
"I have two kids on school and I explain them that school is their job and
they have to study every day to ear good grades and I believe with the
Exit Exam the students can prove if they were in school to learn good
skills and continue with the most important steps, please thinking of the
old years when kids were promoted to the next level because the age not of
their because knowledge is wrong. How can we expect that our kids will be
successful in their life if we are not preparing them well enough to start
a new career when it is not just about graduating it is about how well
they are doing and how hard they are working through the years."
09/16/2009:
"THANK YOU FOR THIS DETAILED INFORMATION AND CLARIFICATION!
question: at elementary level, what interventions are set in place to
bring lower achieving students (low test scores) up to grade level?
it is common knowledge that a high amount of children are reaching middle
school with an inability to complete basic math and english assignments.
(how did they slip through the cracks - why do they move through the
grades without being able to read/write and complete basic math??).
common sense would lead to the intervention being in place here rather
than later years when children have built up psychological defenses to
learning
at middle school/high school monies are spent on 'intervention tools' but
by this time so much schooling/learning has been missed. ((ie: 'locking
the stable door after the horse has bolted')).
WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE STATE TEST SCORES? are they used as a guide tool to
make adjustments or are they for documentation purposes only? Thank you
for any informative response."
08/19/2009:
"Looks like the older kids are getting dumb and dumber when the freshman
are passing Algebra II and juniors are barely passing Algebra I."
06/8/2009:
"Some children disrupt the classroom because that is--perhaps--how they can
have a sense of power in a world where they feel they have none. . .no
power over who they can become. . .low-self-esteem. I'm just speculating,
but as a 20-year veteran teacher at Dominguez High School Compton,
California, it is something I have observed, and my heart goes out to
those kids. Still, that type of behavior is not and should not be
tolerated. When all of us--teachers, students, parents/guardians--work
together and put in our fair and honest share of effort, then our kids can
succeed. . .and isn't that what it's all about, anyway?"
05/29/2009:
"To the person(s) posting 4/27/2009.....are you referring to the Exit Exam
as the test that your daughter missed passing by 5 points??? I'm not sure
what state you reside in, but here in California, the Exit Exam is first
given to high school students as sophomores. Students are given at least
5 opportunities to retake to pass this Exam before graduation. Here,
there are two subjects that are tested; English/Writing and Math. 450
points for each of the two. The passing requirement is only 350 per. To
the 'Hogwash' response on 5/21/2009.......get a clue!!! Since when has
summer school ever been a bad thing , whether the attendee is a straight
'A' student or one just trying to keep/catch up. It's about the effort to
do better, as well as being held accountable if one hasn't made the effort
or needs alittle extra help. STAR testing isn't CRAP.....CORPORAL
PUNISHMENT and your skewed or blurred misconception is the 'CRAP' here.
There are WAY TO MANY kids who don't 'give a !
damn' about their education(s), but all the while don't realize how their
efforts, or lack there of affect the students around them who do care and
make the efforts! There are too many school age kids who have come to
believe/accept that the bare minimum effort, or less is acceptable. IT
ISN'T! The 'respect in the classroom' IS in fact there......by the kids
who do make the effort, do the homework, do the extra credit, put in the
extra hours and stress and sweat about the grades and or teachers
comments. The kids disrupting the classroom are the ones struggling,
hoping to bully, con and fake their way through. STAR testing or
otherwise, the bottomline is that we as parents, grandparents, aunts and
uncles need to hold our children accountable and continually try to
reinforce how important any and all education is."
05/22/2009:
"I have kids in public school and I teach part-time in both the CSU and UC
system. In the private sector where I work full time, standards are
measured by the work you do and success is defined by the ability to do it
and profit frm it. The 'test' is simply an agreed upon standard, like a
10' rim for all you midnight basketballers.
The tests were implemented to measure our students performance.
Immigrants, coming in from third-world contries, were scoring higher and
had better work ethics than out students in the 70s and 80s. It is like a
game of basketball where all the weak guys under 5' had to play the guys
over 6'.
Over the past 15 years, I can definitely say that writing, communication,
and test taking skills have improved since the testing was initiated.
There are other factors, but the testing helps focus a student on doing
work. Yes, it is more work, but this is good for students.
Now, many parents feel like failures when Johnny scores in the 30% range.
But here and as in real life, Johnny can take summer school to perform at
a higher level. In a sense, improve his game.
"
05/21/2009:
"Loved your format.......
I will look forward to your next update.
Thank you,
"
05/21/2009:
"This is hogwash. They teach to these tests, and if you are 3 or under
instead of being held back you have to go to summer school. And then when
your 7th grader is placed in a class that all scored low, for example a
math class, he is in there with all kinds of kids disrupting the class.
Bring back choice of corporal punishment. Bring back f___ing respect to
the classroom. This star testing crap is crap!"
04/27/2009:
"hi...this is not fair to the people who went to school for 12 years and
can't graduate becuse of this test..my daughter went to jordan high and
miss passing this test by 5 points it was one week before graduation when
i found out that she wasnt passing because of this test, i felt so hurt, i
paid for her high package which cost me 1200 then they didnt want to
return my money or the thing in her package, thats wrong the school board
should stop this test and go back to the old days when all they needed was
good permance in school."
