State Education leaders are considering making changes to K-12 testing, specifically impacting third graders and high school students.
State Superintendent Debbie Critchfield floated the idea of dropping the state English Language Arts test (ELA test) for third graders who already have to take a federally issued literacy exam.
“Idaho is one of only a few states in the country that have a required reading test for all kids kindergarten through third grade which I stand behind,” Critchfield said. “I think that as we prioritize reading in those early grades, we need to make sure that we are monitoring and tracking that. But then you layer in that federal government has a requirement that states test all of their students once a year, grades three through eight and then once in high school. So, our little 7- and 8-year-olds have a heavier assessment burden than many of our other grades.”
Critchfield also pushed for creating different types of exams at the high school level, which would be aligned with various pathways students may take after they graduate high school. Critchfield says the discussion has been ongoing for the last 10 years between board members.
“One of the things that we've talked about is having students choose or personalizing the test that they want to take as they exit high school. That is that demonstration of what they know,” Critchfield said. “For students that are choosing to go to college or university, the ISAT gets that job done. Well, some students may choose to only take the SAT if they had the choice or an ACT. For students that are going into the military, there is an assessment called ASVAB. It's known as a reliable assessment of some of those skills. And then there are other assessments out there that I think take to go into the world. Of career technical education, whether it is a skills assessment or other things that demonstrate that you have learned something and that you have a knowledge.”
While dropping or replacing some of these tests is in consideration, Critchfield says the proposals will be meaningful and with the student’s best interest in mind.
“We’re not proposing that no testing or assessment of any kind ever take place, but really starting this conversation to say, ‘what brings us the most value, what’s most meaningful for the student,’” Critchfield said.
The Idaho Department of Education will collect public feedback on the potential changes, then bring formal recommendations to the state board at its regular meeting held in August. If the state board approves those recommendations, they would then be submitted to the federal government for approval.