Tag: Standardized Testing

Louisiana Takes Steps to Reduce Student Standardized Testing Time

In a significant move to alleviate some of the pressure associated with standardized testing, Louisiana’s State Superintendent of Education, Dr. Cade Brumley, announced a major reduction in the amount of time students spend on state assessments. The Louisiana Department of Education (LDOE) is enacting these changes, which will immediately cut testing time by 20% for students taking the LEAP assessments in grades 3 through 8. According to this news release from LDOE, this adjustment will impact both English Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics exams, simplifying the writing portion and eliminating redundant questions. These alterations, which are the first steps in a broader plan to reduce testing time in the future, were made in consultation with testing experts to ensure that the assessments remain effective and reliable.

Dr. Brumley emphasized the careful approach taken to implement these changes. He acknowledged that feedback from parents, teachers, and students had been a driving force behind the decision, stating that reducing testing time has been a constant request. He reassured the public that the modifications would still allow for accurate measurement of student progress, providing valuable insight without unnecessary time spent on redundant tasks.

Starting in April 2025, students in grades 3 through 8 will see shorter testing periods for their annual LEAP assessments. Though the tests will still cover the full scope of Louisiana’s Student Standards for both ELA and math, specific redundancies that had been unnecessarily time-consuming are being removed. The goal is to maintain the same rigor in evaluating student learning, but with more efficient assessments that do not require students to complete tasks that do not add significant value to the overall evaluation.

For ELA, students can expect to spend 40 to 75 minutes less on their exams, depending on their grade level. This reduction is largely due to the removal of one writing prompt from the exam. Previously, each student had been required to complete two writing tasks, but this will be streamlined to just one. In math, students will see a reduction in testing time of about 30 to 40 minutes per exam. This will be achieved by cutting four machine-scored tasks and two constructed-response tasks from the test, which testing experts determined were not necessary for accurately measuring proficiency.

Public school students across the United States are required to take standardized tests to assess whether they have mastered the necessary grade-level skills. State tests play a crucial role in helping educators measure a student’s learning progress. These assessments, combined with grades and other types of evaluations, provide a comprehensive view of where a student excels and where they may need additional support.

In Louisiana, the LEAP (Louisiana Educational Assessment Program) tests have been a key component of the state’s accountability system for many years. While students and parents often express frustration over the amount of time dedicated to testing, the results of these assessments are critical for ensuring students receive the resources they need to succeed academically.

Standardized tests are a long-standing feature of American education, having first been introduced in the early 1900s. Originally used to assess college students and military recruits, standardized testing quickly became a tool used to evaluate students at the elementary and secondary levels. Today, tests like the LEAP exams have become essential in tracking student progress and guiding educational strategies.

The recent changes to Louisiana’s LEAP assessments signify a positive step towards reducing unnecessary testing time, making the process more efficient while still maintaining the integrity of the assessments. By addressing concerns from teachers, students, and parents, and by streamlining the tests themselves, Louisiana is leading the way in ensuring that standardized testing remains a valuable tool for measuring student learning, without overburdening students.

For more education-related information, click here.

LEAP, Attendance Requirements Waived For 2019-2020

In an article in Louisiana Weekly, it was revealed Louisiana Governor John Bel Edwards had proclaimed a waiver for standardized testing (LEAP) state-wide, as well as A-F letter grades and attendance requirements for the rest of the 2019-2020 school year due to the increase in COVID-19 cases.

Expected by local school leaders to promote student mental health and well-being by unburdening them of concerns of grades, attendance and schoolwork, this decision also allows schools to work to explore online learning in these rapidly changing times. The U.S. Department of Education will have to approve some of the waivers, with Edwards noting, “While I’m going to suspend state law, those suspensions are really only effective when we get the waiver.” He indicated that he did not think this would be a problem and that he expected that other states would be seeking the same suspension of requirements on assessment.

Edwards stressed the need for swift, sweeping changes, stating, “The bottom line is this, based on all the information we have, we have two weeks to minimize the spread of COVID-19 and we can only influence that if we are doing what we are being asked to do. Please understand, this fight against coronavirus is going to last longer than two weeks. We don’t want to look like Italy two weeks from now.”  This decision to waive LEAP testing comes after the Governor announced a month-long closure of schools earlier in the month of March to attempt to slow the spread of the virus in The Pelican State.

Several schools nationwide are quickly adapting to closures and the need for online/remote educational options. California’s Governor Gavin Newsom relayed that “few, if any” schools would be reopening in spring 2020.

Knowing families are still invested in their children’s education, schools in the state continue to offer online and take-home learning for students, even with the waived mandates on LEAP testing, attendance and grading.

In New Orleans, fifth-grade teacher at Morris Jeff Community School, Matthew Tuttle, starts morning classes daily with his students in a live video conference.  He relayed, “There’s something to be said with continuing instruction in the face of complete changes of routine, lifestyle and everything. There is something to knowing that your teacher is still going to be there, if by phone, or computer screen. That is something kids can hold on to in an unpredictable time.” Tuttle feels that the waivers will allow for teachers to focus on what really matters, educating students without the added pressure of attendance, testing and grading. The waivers are a relief on both students and teachers in these unprecedented circumstances.

Crescent City Schools CEO Kate Mehok said their schools’ distance-learning plan was changing by the day.  Currently, they are focused on ensuring students needing computer, phone and internet access have it.  “Even though we’ve not officially closed schools for more than just four weeks I think we anticipate this could last longer.  Any decision we would make to end school, my guess is we would make that decision together. I am open to hearing from others and working with the district and Orleans to make sure we’re doing the right thing for kids. So whatever that is, I imagine we’ll do it together,” she said.

In a statement from NOLA Public Schools, the district “is working with our partners to assess how this decision will impact the 2019-2020 school year as the situation develops over the coming months.”

For more Louisiana related articles, click here.