School Tests

So, according to my oldest son's teacher, his school year is technically over. She told my wife and I that they were not going to be learning anything new from this point on. The reason? The CSAP tests were coming up and they were going to be preparing for those the remainder of the year. The CSAP is the Colorado Student Assessment Program. This test is what all Colorado schools' "education" is based upon. If the school doesn't "pass" the program two years in a row, it becomes a charter school. Some funding is also based upon test scores. This program is why our school system is broke.

My son understands everything that he has been taught this year. He understands it so well, that now he is bored all day long. He also has started to really not care about how well homework is completed. As long as there is an answer, he doesn't care if it is right or wrong. He knows how to do it, so why should he waste his time with it? His grades have dropped to B's & C's because of this. So now my job as a parent is to make him bring home EVERY paper that he completes in class & as homework so I can check it before he turns it in. Since I have started doing this, it is amazing how little he has to correct, knowing that I am going to go over it before he turns it in.

We talked to the teacher about perhaps challenging Dylan more so his interest is kept, and she stated that she really doesn't have time. Her day is kept busy by meeting the CSAP standards along with the "No Child Left Behind" criteria set forth by the federal government. So because federal and state programs drive the money & accreditation of a school, my child is going to be pushed along with the rest of the pack.

This very reason is why he hates school. He loves to learn and challenge himself mentally, but hates busywork, and that is what school is all about anymore. Honestly, I can't argue with him.