Over the course of two weeks, 8000 parents across the state responded to a survey developed by New York principals regarding their children’s experiences with the recent state 3-8 Assessments in ELA and mathematics. The parent survey was conducted by www.newyorkprincipals.org The purpose of the survey was to find out more about the effects of these exams.
Teachers and principals of 3-8 students were also surveyed. 6,641 teachers responded and 792 principals responded. Both groups expressed serious concerns and frustrations with the state testing program.
Parents who responded expressed serious concerns regarding the impact that these tests have had on their children and their learning:
• 75% reported their child was more anxious in the month before the test
• Nearly 80% reported that test prep prevented their child from engaging in meaningful school activities.
• 87% reported that the current amount of time devoted to standardized tests is not a good use of their child’s school time.
• 95% were opposed to increasing the number and length of tests
• 91% were opposed to standardized tests for K-2
• 65% reported that too much time is devoted to test prep
• 70% reported that the increased emphasis on high stakes testing has had a negative impact on their child’s school
In addition to responses to questions, about 4000 of the respondents left comments and short anecdotes revealing the following effects on their children:
• Physical symptoms caused by test anxiety , including tics, asthma attacks, acid reflux, vomiting;
• Sleep disruption, crying;
• Refusal to go to school;
• Feelings of failure, increasing as the tests progressed’
• Complaints of severe boredom and restlessness from students who finished early and were required to sit still for the full 90 minutes of each test.