The amount of time students spend on testing can be reduced by nearly 20 percent under recommendations made today by the state superintendent of public instruction as part of a comprehensive report.
The legislatively-required report – based upon a survey of testing practices in hundreds of Ohio districts and schools – suggests the elimination of certain tests used for teacher evaluations plus reductions in other tests taken by students in early grades. Many of the changes would require legislative action.
“I am committed to improving testing efficiency and reducing the testing burden on students while maintaining accountability in our schools,” said Richard A. Ross, superintendent of public instruction at the Ohio Department of Education. “These recommendations are in the best interest of students. They will reduce testing and increase instructional time for Ohio’s boys and girls.”
In preparing the report, the department of education surveyed districts, spoke with teachers and stakeholders and analyzed testing data. The survey indicated that the average student spends 19.8 hours testing per year, or approximately 1 to 3 percent of their school year. The survey also indicated that students spend approximately 15 additional hours on practice tests each year.
“Testing serves an important purpose for monitoring and improving student learning,” Ross added. “Each test should contribute to instructional improvement or making our schools and teachers better.”
Legislative recommendations include:
- Limiting the amount of time a student takes state and district tests to two percent of the school year and limiting the time spent practicing for tests to one percent of the year.
- Eliminating the fall third grade reading test but providing a summer administration of the test for students who need it.
- Eliminating the state’s requirement that districts give math and writing diagnostic tests to students in first through third grade.
- Eliminating the use of student learning objectives as part of the teacher evaluation system for teachers in grades Pre-K through 3 and for teachers teaching in non-core subject areas in grades 4 through 12.
Other actions the department will take include:
- Working with the federal government to advocate for flexibility for Ohio’s testing system.
- Monitoring the first year administration of Ohio’s state assessments including PARCC (English and math) and AIR (science and social studies) tests to determine if any changes should be made to ensure that Ohio’s testing system provides accurate data on student performance in a reasonable way.
- Increasing the efficiency of local testing by finding ways that schools may use a single test for multiple purposes.
- Exploring whether new state tests can be used for gifted identification.
Separately, the department will revise the new Kindergarten Readiness Assessment in response to teacher concerns about its length and reporting process.
“I believe the report provides a solid overview of the overall testing landscape in Ohio,” Ross said. “This report will serve as a starting point for conversations with teachers, stakeholders and policymakers regarding testing.”
To see the full report, click here.