Dear Parents,

 

School districts across the State of Ohio are working hard to ensure that all students are prepared to do their best on the upcoming state assessments. At Kenston, our staff has worked to refine the new standards, plan appropriate instruction, deliver high quality and engaging classroom activities.

 

The State of Ohio has made a significant commitment to these new state tests that are intended to serve as an accountability mechanism for schools. That being said, in our classrooms we already use diagnostic tools to regularly monitor student progress. We believe diagnostic assessments show what skills and knowledge a student has acquired and what a student has yet to learn in more of a real-time way. This information is incredibly valuable to our teachers as they plan their instruction and work with their students both in large and small group settings. Our assessments help inform instruction and, in the end, improve student achievement long term. The big difference is having tools that help us diagnose learning instead of seeing how our students did well after the student has moved on to the next grade level. While I appreciate the recent attention and move to reduce the amount of time spent testing, this reduction needs to focus on the state tests and not the diagnostic assessments that actually improve daily instruction in the classroom.

 

Federal and state law does not allow districts and schools to opt-out of testing students in specific grades and courses.  Like it or not, the system is set up so that students who opt out of taking the state tests are recorded as a "zero" for that child's teacher, school and district. While some protection has been put in place, opting out will impact a teacher's final performance rating for the year, and can cause individual buildings and/or the district to incur a significant drop in state rankings. How will students be affected? Click the link to Ohio Department of Education Guidelines on Student Participation in State Tests.

 

Since the start of the school year, I have been actively engaged with superintendents across the region and state to advocate for our children.  I will continue to voice my concerns with mandated testing and the stress that it places on our students and staff. If you are concerned, it would be appropriate to work to effect change by contacting your representatives to express your opinions about the amount of state testing your child is experiencing in school and/or the proposed state budgets cuts to education. Write, e-mail or call your representatives to express your thoughts about what is going on. I have included their contact information below for your use.

 

Here at Kenston, we will continue to focus on achieving individual academic excellence for our students. That includes using assessments appropriately to enhance what our teachers do in the classroom each day. That should be the focus as we work to improve achievement district-wide.

 

As always, if you have questions about what is taking place in our schools, do not hesitate to talk with your building principal, or call the Board of Education Office. We are here to work with you in order to provide Kenston's students with the best educational experience.

 

Sincerely,

 

Nancy R. Santilli

Superintendent

 

 

Representative Sarah LaTourette (R)

77 S. High Street, 11th Floor

Columbus, OH  43215-6111

Phone: (614) 644-5088

Fax: (614) 719-6998

Email via website: www.ohiohouse.gov/sarah-latourette/contact

 

Representative John Patterson (D)

77 S. High Street, 10th Floor

Columbus, OH  43215

Phone: (614) 466-1405

Fax: (614) 719-6999

Email via website: www.ohiohouse.gov/john-patterson/contact

  

Ohio Senator John Eklund (R)

Senate Building

1 Capital Square, 1st Floor

Columbus, OH  43215

Email via website:  www.ohiosenate.gov/senate/eklund/contact

  

Dr. Richard Ross, Superintendent

Ohio Department of Education

25 South Front Street

Columbus, OH  43215

Phone: (877) 644-6338

Email: [email protected]