Homeschooling in Oregon. Question about testing?
I know that she has to take a test before August 15th. She is extremly worried that she won’t pass. We live in Oregon, and I want to know what she should expect on the test. What do they entail? Also what does it mean that you have to score in the 15th percentile? Thanks!!
Favorite Answer
Scoring in the 15th percentile (which should NOT be difficult) means that 14% of students who took the test scored below your score, and 85% scored above your score. Even the worst public schools around here average 30% on most subjects.
You can do some standardized testing review with different “test ready” products. Here is the one our curriculum uses:
http://www.curriculumassociates.com/products/detail.asp?title=TestReady
Here is a great place to see what standardized tests are like. Texas releases their past tests:
http://www.tea.state.tx.us/student.assessment/resources/release/
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The Percentile determines if you are at your grade level or not.
There is a STANINE line, which is what the US Average is.
You’re PERCENTILE standing either goes below, above or on this line.
If it is seriously below then it means the school system failed you.
If it is above this line then it means the school system did very good by you and you are a good student.
In terms of reality, it doesn’t mean much, other than measure a potential of how you would do on the College oriented SAT or ACT test.
It won’t keep you out of classes.
Only a BAD grade in a prerequiste keeps you out of classes.
They won’t cut her head off or make her stand in the corner with a pointed hat.
It’s just an EVALUATION that reflects on both the STUDENT and the SCHOOL
If MOST of the students in that school FALL BELOW it is a TOTAL INDICTMENT of that SCHOOL’s failure to educate properly.
If most get above and a few get below, it means that student needs to study more and harder.
It means the school is doing their job but the student is slacking off a bit.
It’s an evaluation of both the SCHOOL and the student.
And under the NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND concept this must become part of the PUBLIC RECORD and you can go next year and see HOW THE SCHOOL SYSTEM DID.
If 70% didn’t make the grade it means the SCHOOL is in serious trouble and you child is nothing more than a victim of a bad education program.
If 40% didn’t make the grade, it’s iffy. It’s part school and part student.
If 25% didn’t make the grade, the school is doing OK and it’s the students that are having individual issues.
Three years ago in NY almost NO ONE passed the NY Math Regents exam and the state was considering THROWING that exam out.
That’s a TOTAL INDICTMENT of how NY teaches MATH.
It is NOT an indictment of the students!
It means NY Screwed up in how they teach math and HURT their own students in the process.
When a VAST majority can’t meet the STANINE, it is the SCHOOL that is to blame.
OR you drop the standard. Instead of saying a 12th grader should be able to do Algebra you say well if they can add 2+2 they are doing ok, but that is 5th grade standards for a 12th grader!
And THIS is why AMERICA has problems in education!
Even if she doesn’t do well on this test, it just means she’ll have to test again within the next year. If she scores even lower next year, she’ll need to test a third time within the next year after that and if her score is lower still, she’ll be placed under the supervision of a certified teacher at the parent’s expense. Of course, by that time, she’ll have graduated, so it will be a non-issue.
If she’s never taken a standardized test before, the best way to prepare her is to get a test prep book and allow her to spend the next few weeks “practicing”. Make sure she is aware of all the testing “tricks”: if you aren’t sure of the answer, rule out as many as you can before choosing; ALWAYS work out the math problems on paper, even if they seem simple; if one problem is difficult, skip it and come back to it if you have time.
There are books available to help her study and familiarize your daughter with the testing content and format. I’d check with your local ESD or homeschooling bookstore.
Lastly, know what your rights are as homeschoolers. Test results are reported to the ESD only if the superintendent of the ESD requests them. Depending on where you are in Oregon, there are many great sources of information, as well as online.
