High school principals in Michigan have expressed concerns about the amount of testing time the State of Michigan is requiring for eleventh graders this spring.

The total testing time required for the new Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress (M-STEP) is excessive and disruptive to the educational environment, argue the principals. M-STEP replaces the Michigan Merit Exam (MME) and MEAP tests this spring.

The principals are right.

Assessments are helpful for us to know how our students are doing, how we compare to other schools, other states, and other countries, and how college-ready our kids are to take on their next set of challenges.

This data is essential if we are to improve.

However, we don’t need to take six days of subject testing, plus the college entrance and work readiness exams in order to know how our students are measuring up.

Pulling juniors out of classes they take alongside other high school students so they can take these tests is another disruption to their education and to their teachers’ planning. This spring’s tests are also all online, so tying up the computer labs and school laptops is another disruption to the whole building’s learning environment.

The M-STEP truly goes overboard with testing time. In past years, we were able to schedule junior testing in just a few days.

Whenever I interview teachers for jobs, I ask them to describe the best teachers they’ve ever known. Think for a moment about the best teachers you’ve ever known. If you have images of caring, committed, knowledgeable and engaging people coming to mind, you’re like the vast majority of people to whom I’ve posed that question.

Not once has a teaching candidate ever told me they remember a great teacher who really got them ready for a MEAP or MME test.

If we asked Gov. Snyder, State Superintendent Flanagan, our legislators, and anyone in the State Department of Education that same question, I’m sure they too would agree that great teaching is not all about taking tests.

 

John Jarpe is the superintendent of Brandywine Community Schools. He can be reached at (269) 684- 7150.