Sticky Issues
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Sticky Issues Archive >
In this section, principals tell how they handled a challenging situation, how some policy that was in place actually worked, and the lessons learned from dealing with these Sticky Issues. Send your stories to principal@osu.edu. Please indicate if we may use your name in the “contributor” credits.
Testing Advice: Stick to the Script!
Imagine yourself walking around your classroom while your students are taking the Ohio Achievement Test. One of them raises their hand and asks, “"What does this mean?” And you say……Another child asks, “Is this right?” And your response is……The last student asks, “Since I am finished with today’s test can I go back and finish yesterday’s?” And your answer to that is……
As state-mandated test season approaches, one needs to take time to reflect and know the rules. Since the inception of high-stakes testing each year there have been more and more reports that have come to light surrounding test security and ethical testing practices. There was one case of a teacher giving the reading test on the math testing day. All of her students had to be sequestered for the day, parents had to be contacted, gag orders had to be enforced, and a myriad of documentation had to be completed. The state was satisfied with the procedures followed. Elsewhere in other parts of the state you heard of missing test booklets or answer documents, teachers or administrators opening tests prior to the day of testing and adults allegedly telling students answers later in the day prior to make-ups being completed. Recently, there was a case where several students reported to an adult that their teacher had allegedly helped them on a particular test. This resulted in the administration, both at the building and district levels, conducting a long-term investigation that included students being deposed multiple times and eventually test scores becoming invalidated. This greatly affected the building report card. The teacher was placed on paid administrative leave followed by unpaid leave and eventually terminated. These situations have made teachers and administrators concerned about what is or isn’t to be done and what they may have or haven’t already done in the past. These types of infractions may carry heavy penalties including the loss of jobs and revocation of teaching licenses.
The best advice is “stick to the script.” You have a test administrator’s manual and it tells you exactly what to say and when to say it. Test preparation should be like everything else: taught. You need to simulate the testing environment and practice it. If this is done prior to testing your students should feel more comfortable during the test. If it isn’t practiced, things may not go as smoothly. The stress doesn’t help the fact that everyone already has some test anxiety.
It looks like high-stakes testing is here to stay as at least one piece of accountability for our educational system. Know your test manual. You should have signed a Notice of Ethical Test Practices that says you do. Your job may depend on it.
