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Photograph by Kathy De La Torre
C.T. English Middle School Principal Lorrie Wernick sells students a variety of snacks during STAR test breaks.
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Schools prepare to mine gold from their STAR performance
By Rebecca Ray
Recently at Prospect High School, students who attended class and made it there on time, were rewarded in a variety of ways, including barbecues, pizza parties and the chance to win prizes in a raffle.
Administrators didn't do this because the school has an attendance problem. These measures were taken to induce students to show up and take the state's standardized tests.
This spring, students at all public schools in California are taking the California Standardized Testing and Reporting Program tests, more commonly referred to as STAR tests. These tests, given annually, measure second- through 11th-grade students' achievement in various subjects. Schools that improve their scores from the year before by a certain amount receive money from the state. For most students, the test is mandatory.
While some schools, such as Prospect High School in Saratoga, reward students with special treats for taking the tests, other schools try to make the environment as much like a regular school day as possible.
At Los Gatos High School, where students will take the test on May 18 and 21, administrators will set up several tables that contain bagels, fruit, orange juice and milk so that students don't get hungry and distracted during the test, said Kathleen Eaton, vice principal in charge of curriculum and testing.
At Alta Vista Elementary School in Los Gatos, each class celebrated the students' hard work with an ice cream treat provided by the Home and School Club, said Principal Barbara Dabel.
C.T. English Middle School in Los Gatos went even farther. According to Principal Lorrie Wernick, who is also testing coordinator for the Loma Prieta Joint Union School District, the school sold refreshments--from muffins to beef jerky to a variety of cookies and crackers--during test breaks. Teachers also bought gum so that students could chew it while taking the test. Normally, they aren't allowed to chew gum at school. But administrators made an exception this time because a study shows that moving one's mouth while taking a test makes one more alert, Wernick said.
Administrations at other schools believe the best way to prepare students for the test is to have a good curriculum and not do anything differently. Randy Karel, principal of Blue Hills Elementary School in Saratoga, said Blue Hills administrators didn't do anything to make the testing days special because they didn't want to create anxiety among the students.
"We try to approach it in just a real nice, positive manner," Karel said.
Administrators at Saratoga Elementary School also try to maintain a relaxed atmosphere, yet retain special parts of the curriculum, such as art and P.E., so that the environment is also as interesting as possible.
"I think, in general, we try to keep it as normal as we can," Principal Marybarbara Zorio said.
To help students get used to the questions on the test, teachers have taught to state standards all year and given students practice questions. Teachers have also requested that their classes not be disturbed during testing times.
Administrators at most, if not all, schools in Los Gatos and Saratoga have sent parents letters and newsletters, asking them to make sure their children get enough rest and eat good breakfasts. They also ask parents not to schedule appointments for their children during testing times. Blue Hills asked parents not to rush around in the mornings so their children can stay relaxed.
Senate Bill 376 authorized the STAR program in October 1997. California schools first administered the STAR tests in spring 1998.
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Los Gatos, California Since 1881
