New school assessments starting

Many residents have been asking the school district what they could do to increase test scores for the past few years.  A few months ago, Bonnie Alicea spoke up and gave them a solution.  Bonnie stated that "the teachers could not be held accountable for low test scores because they have not been given the tool to do the job effectively by knowing how to raise the scores."  She had recommended new computerized testing that would allow a teacher to be notify of lacking skill areas and work on the progress of each child and could in turn, show a annual progress of student achievement, reduce testing anxiety, and oversee the growth of a student throughout schooling. 

I mean, is it fair that a teacher gets a boy up two reading levels, but since he is so far behind they penalize that teacher at promotion time when test results arrive?  Absolutely not. 

Bonnie fought for the teachers and for the students, in what she called "a government ran school board who could not focus on test scores and education when they were too busy taking free conference trips and partying".  After asking the board to come up with solutions for two years, she finally offered this as a solution.

Low and behold, the Valley View School District has finally contracted with MAP.  (Northwest Evaluation Association at www.NWEA.org)  This system will start gauging students needs early on in the year, so the teachers can cater to each child and enhance their growth.  Now, the teachers can be held accountable and so can the students.  This is a win/ win for everyone, including parents and administrators.

Bolingbrook is not the first one to begin using a program like this.  The Chicago Public School System has been using it for a few years with great success.

We hope that this is the first step towards properly assessing our children and filling in the gaps of their education.  We also hope that this will allow the teachers to become better at what they do and be able to work towards a merit reward system for ISAT score increases. 

Somehow, I do not feel people will complain so much about the tax issue with schools in 365-U is the scores of the students were high.