The day’s top news events, economic reports, sports updates, Rochester area weather information and tomorrow’s forecast are brought to you by the News10NBC team.
ROCHESTER, NY — The state Department of Education has released test data for the 2023-2024 school year, revealing that fifth-grade science skills in the Rochester City School District are significantly below the state average. Only 10% of RCSD students took quality tests, compared to 35% statewide.
Briana Bendlin, one of the teachers, explained that the test changed this year to align with the Next Generation Science Standards.
“In my experience having previously taught fourth grade science, the written portion of the test did not take all day for the majority of students,” she said.
Jennifer Quinn-Burroughs, another teacher, shared her experience with the new test.
“This scientific test was so long. I’ve never seen such a long test for fifth graders before,” she said. She noted that even her highest-performing students struggled to complete it during the school day.
Bendlin observed similar challenges, saying, “It was long, it was arduous; many students took at least two days. One student even took almost five days to complete the test.
Both teachers felt that the test focused more on reading comprehension than actual scientific understanding.
“It was a question of how the question is asked, not its content,” Bendlin said.
Quinn-Burroughs added: “This test was only about the facts you had memorized, and that’s not how we teach science. »
Teachers also pointed out that students take multiple tests simultaneously, which affects their performance. They criticized the test for its rigidity and lack of practical learning components.
“The way the curriculum is designed doesn’t allow for the exploratory nature that students need when it comes to science,” Bendlin said.
When asked whether test scores accurately reflect a student’s science knowledge, Bendlin responded, “Oh, absolutely not.” » She called for a complete overhaul of the testing system, emphasizing the need to view students as learners rather than products of the curriculum.
Quinn-Burroughs expressed concerns about the impact of testing on students’ mental health, saying, “I don’t think a test is the right environment for kids when it comes to their mental health, and I don’t don’t think it’s a measure. of what they really know.
Bendlin suggested it would take more time to accurately compare this year’s data with previous years. News10NBC reached out to the school district for their views on the scores but has not yet received a response.
*AI helped format this story. Click here to see how WHEC News10NBC uses AI*