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Thursday, July 24, 2008

EDUCATION

Education board OKs LEAP test exceptions

  • By WILL SENTELL
  • Advocate Capitol News Bureau
  • Published: May 14, 2008 - Page: 12A - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

State educators approved two new ways Tuesday for public school eighth-graders to get around a test required for promotion.

A third exception failed on a 5-5 vote. It may be debated again Thursday during a meeting of the state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.

The issue under review is the LEAP test, which eighth-graders are supposed to pass before they are promoted to the ninth grade.

The two new policies were approved by the board’s Accountability and Assessment Committee.

However, 10 of the full board’s 11 members were on hand for the issue, which means approval by the full board is virtually certain Thursday.

LEAP is designed to make sure students master basic skills in math and English. Results are broken into five categories: advanced, mastery, basic, approaching basic and unsatisfactory.

Students are supposed to score at least “basic” in math or English, and “approaching basic” in the other, for promotion.

However, the committee voted Tuesday to widen the state’s waiver policy so that:

  • Students who score “approaching basic” in both subjects can be promoted.
Current rules only allow students who score “approaching basic” in both subjects on the summer retest to move on, not the spring exam.
  • Students who score “approaching basic” in math and English through a combination of the spring and summer tests, even if they score “unsatisfactory” in the other each time, could move to the ninth grade.
Under current rules, students who score “unsatisfactory” in math or English have to score “mastery” or “advanced” in the other to qualify for a waiver.

Backers said students who score “approaching basic” in math and English have a 60 or 70 percent chance of passing a mandatory test for high school graduation compared to 80 percent for those who score “basic” and “approaching basic.”

State Superintendent of Education Paul Pastorek said it should not make any difference whether students scored “approaching basic” in both subjects in the spring or summer.

“When you get the AB/AB is not really material,” Pastorek said.

The change would take effect with eighth-graders in the 2007-08 school year.

But Pastorek and others criticized a plan that would have given eighth-graders a third new way around the test.


Comments (12)
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joe
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
5:01 AM

If this keeps up they will be able to pass if they can recognize most of the A-B-C's.
Public
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
8:33 AM

How in the world did we make it through before LEAP testing came along.
Paul
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
1:01 PM

Amen Public!! This test is nothing more than a shift of the blame from the educator to the educated. It's educators saying "Hey, I taught your child but it's not my fault if they don't get it." We need REAL accountabilities for our schools, not standardized tests that punish the students. And for the record, I'm not some disgruntled parent whose kids failed. My child passed the LEAP. I just disagree with the test on principle.
Jamie
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
1:32 PM

Having 2 girls in the 8th grade, I prayed for them to pass. They did. For one of them it was the 3rd LEAP test she had to take. The stress she was under could be felt by the entire family. I feel like the stress has been handed mostly on the kids. If that child fails the 3rd time, does the teacher get fined??? Are they held responsible in ANY WAY, at that moment? I hurt for the 66% who failed, and the 17 yr olds that are dropping out because they couldnt pass AB. They need help, not be punished. If we test them and they fail so often, why arent their solutions given ...places to go where you can get the help? I know you have summer school, but what about extra? The focus of schools has gone from teaching to teaching only to pass the LEAP.
Renee` LaBauve
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
3:46 PM

How crazy I sat at the Education Committee meeting yesterday and told the representives that we need to idenifiy the weak link, not fail our students. WE need to start w/ these kids at a young age not 4th or 8th grade. If a private evaluation can identify an impairment why can't our school system. They behave as if the child needs to be 10 yers old before they know if they can read, yet they teach reading in kinder. This is a bunch of bull and I'm sick and tired of this. My son has been pushed through the system and now he's 11 years old in the 4th grade and has failed the LEAP and did I mention he's special ed. WHO in there right mind would expected a special ed. child to pass any test that is two grade levels above his level??? It amazes me that these folks that come up w/ these plans are educated!!! I don't want a waiver I want my son to get an education and learn to read. He wants to be a productive adult one day not a bum at an intersection collection change. But leave it up to "whoever wrote the rules" b/c no one what's to really be responsible. Please contact me I would like to get a group of parents/taxpayers/ w/e and have a rally at the capitol Renee` LaBauve 225-622-1872
Renee` LaBauve
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
4:34 PM

Okay I'm sick and tire of this bull! After sitting in the ed. committee meeting yesterday and listening to them talk for an hour about trans fats and 15 minutes on LEAP is nuts. If we would teach the kids to read they could read the see how much trans fat is the candy bar of bag of chips. I'm getting my picket sign and hitting the captiol steps while they are in session. My voice will be heard loud and clear. If you would like to join me call me @ 225.622.1872
Chasity Deloch
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
6:47 PM

I would just like to say they need to get rid of the Leap test completely and not replace it with something else. Students did just fine in school before the test and the added stress it brings to them, and their parents. I hope this decision brings forth a greater passing rate and a declined drop out rate.
Da'VionneKnight
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
7:22 PM

First I would like to say that I'am an 8th grade student who failed the LEAP test at Brusly Middle School which I think is not fair because at Brusly High School you can pass the LEAP with two A/B and you have a choice of going to summer school or not. In West Baton Rouge Parish if you pass all of your classes and failed the LEAP test, that holds you back for another yeasr which makes no since at all. Louisiana Department of Education needs to REMOVE the LEAP test completely because it is holding back students who deserve to be promoted to the next grade but has to repeat another year in the 8th grade because of the unfair LEAP test. Kids like myself passing all of the other classes with a "B" average fails the LEAP test and their learning expectation is higher without the LEAP test. If private schools does not have have to take the LEAP then why does the public schools have to? The LEAP test is unfair to me; a student,teachers,and parents!
Paul
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
8:25 PM

Sorry Renee, I don't see where how much trans fat in a candy bar or bag of chips has anything to do with education or the LEAP. Schools need to worry about our kids getting an education not whether or not they are eating properly. That is up to parents and their medical resources. If schools want to help with that by providing healthy choices, that's great, but ultimately it is not up to them. They provide nutrition classes and P.E. and that should be enough. Parents need to take more responsibility with their kids and become involved in their education. The LEAP test is nothing more than shifting accountability from the schools to the students. When A-B students are failing the LEAP there is obviously a problem. It's been that way since its inception and that needs to change. If anything needs picketing it's the LEAP test.
Renee` LaBauve
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
9:55 PM

Paul, First let me give some background. My son is a 4th grade special ed. student that failed the LEAP. I don't agree with the LEAP being a factor in ANY student passing or failing a grade. I've been fighting this education system for seven years and my son is only a second grade reading level at the age of eleven. I've worked my butt off trying to figure out what is wrong w/ him and I've spend countless hours working w/ him myself. Not to mention having professional work with him also. The trans fat issue was a house bill yesterday in the ed. committee at the capitol yesterday. The committee spent over an hour talking about this issue and only 15 minutes on LEAP and education. I was just being a smart_ss with my statement. If our children are taught to read they could read and make there own choice about the trans fat. I was applaud that little time was spent talking about our childrens and educating them, but more time spent on issues not even about a classroom. I'm sorry to sound so upset and don' t mean to come across rude. I would like the LEAP out b/c I know what it has done to my kids. Both my kids took it one in 4th and one in 8th!!! I agree the schools should be worried about educating our children not how much or little they eat, but our government is worried about it and it was more important yesterday. I would encourage everyone (if you have time) go set in just one committee room and see what is happening!!!
A. J.
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
11:39 PM

I am an educator. I teach the 8th graders at my school. No I do not like the LEAP test and my students don't like it any more than I do. I am so busy teaching what my students need to pass the LEAP that true teaching has gone out the window. Why, because the money my school gets is tied to LEAP and if we don't make a certain growth target we will be taken over by the state. So you say only the students are stressed, well I disagree. My students did ok. Did they all pass-no. Were they stressed-yes. Some came so close to the Basic mark it was sad. Do I think LEAP will go away? Doubtful. But I can hope. Some students don't test well, while others can zoom through it even if they make F's all year long. The LEAP test has taken away my right to be an educator in many ways. My judgement and knowledge is replaced by a single test and it boils down to a single grade. Not what the student has accomplished all year long. It doesn't measure how far a student has advanced from the beginning of the year. It only shows what that student has done at that particular time. If we don't do something the drop out rate will increase. Some students will never be Basic or above. They are doing their level best where they are. Do I think it will stop them from being a successful adult who contributes to society? No but I do think if we continue to place barriers in front of them it will. Without a diploma or GED these kids don't stand a chance. And not everyone works on the same level. So we shouldn't penalize them for being different. I said different not unintelligent. So I hope that BESE gives these 8th graders the hope they need. Let them go on. The odds are that 7 out of 10 of them will pass the GEE. If we don't give them the chance 0 out of 10 won't if they drop out because they get so old in the 8th grade. Who wants to be 18 sitting in a class with13 year olds? Folks something has to be done.
Paul
Thursday, May 15, 2008
12:59 PM

Thanks Renee, I totally misread your first post. Yes, it was ludicrous for the board to spend more time on nutrition than on something regarding education. They should listen to people like A.J., who is in the classroom and seeing the negative impact of the LEAP test. They should put the power back into the hands of the teacher and then come up with an effective way to assess the teacher. We should punish bad teachers not students. But of course, it seems that this comes down to money and in Louisiana nothing trumps money.
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