Standardized Testing and Reporting, more commonly known as STAR testing, is something students tend to brush off. Sure, these tests may be monotonous and students would rather not fill in bubbles on scantrons for hours, but state test scores are a reflection of our school. In order to encourage the student body to perform to certain standards this year, Carlsbad High School’s administration has added some incentive.
The first possible reward applies to the English section of the standardized test. The students who bring their score up a level or score advanced or proficient in English will be given a Star Award. Those recipients will have different options for the use of this award in their English class next year.
“Any student who receives a 4 or a 5 or who improves their score by 1 will receive the Star Achievement Award and essentially it will be used either as a homework pass, dropping a low quiz score or many other things,” English teacher Mrs. Fanning said.
The second part of the incentive applies to the entire student body. If CHS gets an 840 Academic Performance Index (API), everyone gets an extra early release day next year. Currently, CHS has an 829 API but the administration wants to improve on this score. In order to calculate the API, the state combines standardized test results and measures progress. Therefore, if the students, as a whole score, well on the STAR this year and the goal API is reached, administration will arrange for an extra short day within the year.
“If, as a school, we improve our API by eleven points, they will add in an extra early release,” Fanning said.
The third and final part of the rewards offered for next year is the possibility of a beach day. CHS is currently ranked seventeenth in San Diego County due to the current API but once again, administration wants to make progress. Therefore, if CHS moves up to one of the top 5 schools in San Diego County after this year of STAR testing, all of the students will be treated with an organized beach day.
With the promise of these rewards, administration hopes students will put in their best effort this testing season. Additionally, students now have a goal to work toward and some added drive to try on the state tests.
“[Students] should want to do well to prove what [they] know but we recognize that isn’t always enough so we are encouraging [them] to do better,” Fanning said.
bryan farley • May 6, 2012 at 11:26 am
Research is important, or so I am told. So I am wondering, did anyone research whether students want an extra early release?
emir • May 17, 2012 at 11:25 pm
I can not speak for all of the students at Carlsbad High School, but I believe that myself as well as many of my friends would love an extra early release. I mean it’s better than nothing, right?
Kelly • May 23, 2012 at 8:34 am
….but is it enough to make you want to jump through the state testing hoops?
emir • Sep 7, 2012 at 5:43 pm
State testing hoops?
We were going to have to take the test either way, right?
Might as well get something extra for the hard work…
jmoo • May 1, 2012 at 10:51 pm
Standardized testing and school assessments remind me of this story my professor told me:
There was this farmer. And he was trying to raise his cattle to grow heavier and stronger. So he decided that he would just weigh the cows more often. If he weighed them more often, they were bound to grow faster & heavier, right? He called it “No Cow Left Behind.” Oh and if the cows didn’t grow fast enough or well enough, he might withhold some funding…ehem, sorry…food. Worked like a charm.
Of course it’s actually more complicated than that, and I don’t know much about how it works. So maybe I shouldn’t be talking. But yeah, cool story.
At least CHS is making the best of it!