Should we incentivize CAASPP testing

Much to the delight of Samo juniors, the Samo math department has incentivized CAASPP testing this year, a test taken specifically by the 2020 class. If a students’ score meets or exceeds the set standards, they will have the option to opt out of their spring final in their math class.  This incentive is progress for Samo for many reasons. Our scores aren’t bad, but they could better reflect the skill level of our students. Many students simply do not put in their best effort during state testing because they are told it does not matter. However, it does matter for the school’s ranking and financial decisions.  Math department head Marae Cruce is excited to offer this opportunity, and believes it will do a lot of good for both the students and the math department.  “Our goal is to help students take the tests seriously, not necessarily to improve the scores, but we believe they could be better and are slightly inaccurate,” Cruce said.  More accurate results will be extremely beneficial. The school will no longer have to base decisions off of the results of a test that students deemed unimportant and not worthy of their effort. Now, the school will be able to use these more accurate results to make smarter financial decisions. Often times, test results show which departments need the most resources, and help the school distribute the money to the best of their ability. Students will also benefit, made clear by a department memo sent to all math teachers about the new incentivized CAASPP testing. While students have the option of opting out of their math final, they can choose to take it if they want to. “That means, if you have an 80 percent, you can choose to not take the spring final without harming your grade. You would keep your 80 percent. On the flip side, if you had an 89 percent and really studied, you would have the opportunity to take the final in hopes of improving your grade,” the memo said.  Principal Dr. Antonio Shelton is also committed to incentivizing students to focus on the testing.  “Our number one goal is for kids to take the assessment seriously. It tells us whether or not we are addressing the needs of our students appropriately,” Shelton said.  Some may argue that this undermines the purpose of education, and encourages students to try on CAASPP testing in order to get out of a test. However, the benefits outweigh the costs. The school using its money efficiently and our state’s ranking being an accurate reflection of Samo is more important overall than a single final exam.