[samscommunity] PACT Information: See both articles below...

MESSAGE FROM ST. ANDREWS MIDDLE SCHOOL:


I apologize for the email that was sent this morning.  I have included the 
information that was supposed to be viewed.  Again, please disregard the 
message that was sent this morning.

 
 Who Grades the PACT? 

(Columbia) - In classrooms across the state, students and teachers have spent 
weeks prepping for the PACT - solving math problems and reading passages to get 
ready for what many consider the most important test of the year.

"We use it as a guide to know what our students have learned through the 
years," says Liza Johnson, a teacher at Dent Middle School.

It's knowledge that's tested over a two week period, then the pencils are put 
down, the booklets closed and all of your child's information shipped off to be 
scored.

"The company that's selected for PACT is Data Recognition Corporation," says 
Cindy Saylor, the Deputy Superintendent for Curriculum Services and Assessment 
for the state.

The company, which is also known as DRC, is based in Minnesota. A quick online 
search a few weeks back found a job posting for this year's test scorers.

"I would think they would have to be qualified academically with English 
Language Arts," says Dent Middle School teacher Jenniferr Cain.

Adds Liza, "Maybe a background in teaching?"

Well, according to the ad, scorers need a 4-year college degree, but the type 
of degree isn't specified.

We called the number listed and got this recording: "If you are interested in 
the test scoring position, you must attend one of these sessions. If you are 
attending, you should bring proof of college course work - a diploma, 
transcript or teaching certificate will suffice."

"I don't like that," says parent Darlene Brayboy. "I mean, you don't know who's 
grading it and what their degree is and all that."

Adds Makeba Pondexter, "How do they know that these people are really grading 
the grades fairly?"

We took that question back to the Department of Education. "Approximately 80% 
of those readers are classroom teachers or have been classroom teachers or are 
retired teachers. Many have masters degrees, doctorates," Cindy explains.

She says, in 2004 the state hired a company to survey its PACT scorers. The 
company selected 48 out of 350 and among those picked, 80% had teaching 
experience.

As for the other 20%, Cindy says they have degrees in related fields, like 
English Literature.

"That sounds better," Makeba says, "because then they will know probably how to 
grade the grades and you know, the kids will probably get a fair chance."

According to DRC, though, the numbers are quite different. They say 27% of 
their scorers have education degrees - and as far as how many out of the entire 
pool have taught or are teaching, they haven't calculated that figure.

They say they do, though, try to hire scorers with degrees in related fields, 
but say they won't turn away other candidates who are suitable.

"If they don't have that degree in teaching or have dealt with a child, you 
really couldn't understand where the child's coming from," Darlene says.

Either way, all of the readers, no matter their degree, are trained for two 
days to see if they can correctly identify answers on the four levels of 
grading: below basic, basic, proficient and advanced.

"That's what they're looking for, can we get as close to the mark? Can we meet 
the standard when we're on our own to grade those papers," Cindy says.

It's an explanation that seems to reassure teachers - "I would trust that they 
have done all the background research or knowledge to make sure that company is 
capable," Jenniferr says - but what about parents?

"It's a very high stakes process when we're talking about what happens with the 
students of our state and we want to make sure that's absolutely legal, 
correct, above-board and valid," says Cindy.

For tips on how you can help your child improve his or her test-taking 
experience, just click on the Department of Education link in the upper 
right-hand corner of the page. 

Related links:
      
 http://www.ed.gov/pubs/parents/TestTaking/index.html

 
Why PACT matters
By LEZLIE PATTERSON - lpatterson@xxxxxxxxxxxx 
PACT does not stand for parents against crazy tests.

But it could.

Many parents don?t understand these annual standardized tests. Some even resent 
them.

So why should we care if our kids do well on them or not?

These test scores don?t show up on our kids? report cards. They won?t even get 
these scores back until next school year.

So why should we hold our tempers in the morning, feed them a nutritious 
breakfast, get them to bed early and all those other things educators tell us 
to do during PACT testing?

Because they do matter.

?Granted it is not on the student?s report card,? said Ron Miles, a local 
guidance consultant and interim director of guidance for Richland 1. ?However, 
the results say a great deal about a student?s ability to meet minimum 
standards.

?Without this, students may be perceived as ?below average? or ?not working up 
to potential?. So PACT is a way for our students to be viewed in the best 
light.?

There are many ways these PACT scores can directly affect your child.

?It?s another tool we use when we talk about making plans for that child in the 
upcoming year,? said Brenda Dooley, guidance counselor at Lake Murray 
Elementary in Lexington.

PACT scores are one of the factors educators consider when deciding whether 
your child should be in gifted programs. They?re one of the things used when 
determining who should be in honors or advanced classes.

Carolina Junior Scholars considers PACT scores.

And of course, there?s a matter of pride - of reiterating, by our words and 
actions, that they should do their best on all endeavors.

Doing their best is not making a Christmas tree design out of the dots on the 
answer sheet.

PACT does help teachers assess how well your child is learning, Dooley said. 
And it also helps prepare them for later standardized tests, like the PSAT, SAT 
and exit exam. Tests you will definitely care about.

?We?re teaching children how to take a test, giving them good strategies to be 
good test-takers,? Dooley said. ?The more practice you have taking tests, the 
better you?ll become at it, because you?re going to get used to the process.?

And then there?s the impact the scores make on your school?s report card.

?PACT scores do affect a school?s rating,? Miles said. ?And I?m certain that 
our parents and students do want their schools to be viewed in the most 
positive ways possible.?

It?s one way to demonstrate accountability to the community, Dooley said.

So while parents still might get a bit crazed about the hoopla surrounding 
PACT, there are reasons we need to care about our kids? results.

?Although PACT may be a monster,? Miles said, ?it still is a necessary 
instrument in documenting the progress of our schools and our individual 
students.?

  





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St. Andrews Middle School General Information:
School Phone Number:  (803) 731-8910
Fax Number: (803) 731-8913
Principal's Secretary: Mrs. Doctor 731-8910

Principal: 7th Grade Administrator: Mr. Richardson 731-8910
Assistant Principal: 6th Grade Administrator: Dr. Holmes 750-4034
Assistant Principal: 8th Grade Administrator: Ms. Broome 750-4032
School Resource Officer: Deputy Wilson 750-4076

6th Grade Guidance Counselor: Ms. Dunning 750-4030
7th Grade Guidance Counselor: Ms. Shealy 750-4029
8th Grade Guidance Counselor: Ms. Hatcher 750-4036

Curriculum Resource Teacher (CRT): Ms. Miller 750-4031
Attendance Office: Ms. Spencer 731-8912
Database Specialist: Ms. Thomas-Smith 750-4027
Bookkeeper: Ms. Bailey 731-8910

School Nurse: 750-4028
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