Barking Points: Spring State Testing

At the very beginning of the school year, teachers and students started an ascent towards a common goal for which they strived to reach each day: learn as much as possible and study until the information is retained.

With the arrival of the final two months of school, Lind-Ritzville Middle School’s goal has shifted onto the steepest mountain, the ridge that will prove their success: state testing. There have been many different variations of state testing used in the past, each with the same objective but slightly different means.

This year, students will strive to achieve their goal of passing the Smarter Balanced Field Test. Students will begin testing on May 6 and LRMS teachers hope to have prepared them well.

According to smarterbalanced.org, “Smarter Balanced is a state-led consortium working collaboratively to develop next generation assessments aligned to the Common Core State Standards that accurately measure student progress towards college and career readiness.”

Smarter Balanced tests are different from recent tests distributed by the state because they are funded by a four year, $175 million grant from the U.S. Department of Education. Three million students are currently involved throughout 22 states, including Washington.

Each state’s government ultimately decides the content of Smarter Balanced tests, but the test is distributed and compared to tests from other participating states. The test is administered via computers to facilitate faster results and reduce the cost of the program. Smarter Balanced testing is being piloted this year, and the outcome of this year’s testing will influence the future of the program.

According to the Smarter Balanced website, “The Field Test is a practice run of the assessment system that helps ensure that test questions are accurate and fair for all students.”

The testing window for computerized tests at Lind-Ritzville Middle School will begin on Monday, May 19, and conclude Friday, June 6. Students in grades six through eight are required to take the language arts and math assessments, but there are additional exams students are required to take.

The essay-writing portion of state testing will be included as part of the language arts Smarter Balanced test in order to reduce the number of days spent testing. It will be administered to sixth, seventh and eighth graders. Eighth graders must take a state science test on May 6, and math students at algebra level or above will be taking an End-of-Course Assessment in their specific class.

While only the math and reading tests are a part of the Smarter Balanced pilot program, it is highly recommended that students are present at school on the days of testing in order to increase the efficiency of time spent in class, as well as overall success.

Lind-Ritzville Middle School’s English teacher, Rita Fryberger, has been teaching students the Common Core State Standards and preparing for the Smarter Balanced test all year long. She said, “Students have been prepared for the assessment, and their success will depend on how well they use the tools they’ve been given and how well the technology works.”

Lance Marquardt, one of the math teachers at LRMS has also been preparing students for state testing. “I think [the new test] will make students adjust to the change. Sometimes, there’s an adjustment period where at first kids struggle. The more they do, the better they get.”

The Smarter Balanced test is in its pilot year; the test will adapt next year based on the outcome of this year. The new test may take time to smooth itself out, but students have prepared themselves and will do well.