Every Kentucky student knows what two weeks in April mean: state testing. However, starting next year, the typical state tests will be no more.
    The Kentucky legislature recently voted in favor of a bill that will change the end of year testing system statewide. Instead of KCCT testing at the end of the year, high school students will instead face end of course assessments after completion of four courses: Algebra 2, English 2, U.S. History, and Biology. Four more courses are planned to be added to the 2012-2013 assessments as well.

     “The new tests will be based on national standards that Kentucky, as well as several other states will follow,” said math teacher Heather Rice. Mrs. Rice attended a conference last summer that briefed her on the new system. “We will have to meet those national standards in order to meet state requirements, and a lot of that will involve covering new curriculum.”

       Many teachers find concerns with the new testing system.

       “There are a lot of details missing,” Mrs. Rice. “I don’t know how this will work with trimester scheduling or with all different grades being tested over the same materials at different times. I’m worried about test integrity.”

       Some teachers are worried about the amount of new material they will have to cover to meet the standards.

       “We have a hard enough time as it is,” said history teacher Jill Lewis. “I struggle to cover the content they expect me to cover now, and once they change to the new standards, I will have to change from teaching Reconstruction to present to teaching all the way back to colonial times.”

        Others are concerned with the No Child Left Behind aspect, something Corbin’s math department has been struggling with in the past few years.

        “It will definitely lower the NCLB scores,” said Mrs. Rice. “However, if the new test truly follows the standards, everyone will take a drop.”

        Another concern involves the incorporation of a student’s performance on the tests into their final course grade.

        “In one way it could benefit us, but it could hurt us too,” said biology teacher Ann Hail. “It might motivate the kids to do better because they know it will count toward their grade, but then there are the kids that do well in class, but freeze up on the test, which will lower their grade.”

       Most students either don’t understand or are not concerned with the new tests.

       “I don’t know a whole lot about them,” said sophomore Whitney Baker. “It’s just another test though, so I’m not too worried about it. I’m sure we’ll be fine.”

       Some, however, are quite anxious about the switch.

       “I don’t like it,” said sophomore Sam Elliott. “I’m going to fail.”

       Despite the current concerns, almost everyone is confident that we will be able to overcome this change and wind up successful.

       “We’ll adapt,” said Mrs. Lewis. “We’re Corbin, we always do.”