A group of 15 Ohio schools, including Reynoldsburg's eSTEM Early College Academy, have received state approval to develop alternatives to Ohio's newest state standardized tests, but the federal government must second that approval.
Ohio Department of Education spokesman John Charlton said the schools that were selected to opt-out of the current state tests are a part of an Innovative Learning pilot program to develop alternative tests that would match each school's specific educational program.
"Results of the trial could help shape state testing policies that affect schools statewide," Charlton wrote to the schools in a letter released April 6.
He said the earliest the department expects the schools to begin piloting the alternative tests is the 2016-17 school year.
Reynoldsburg eSTEM Academy Principal Scott Bennett said he applied for a waiver to opt out of the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers tests because eSTEM, like other STEM schools, already has many ways students demonstrate mastery of subjects, such as participation in the robotics program and other STEM initiatives.
He and other administrators also believe the current ACT exams are better than the PARCC end-of-course exams for students planning to attend college.
PARCC tests were administered statewide this year, but many administrators and parents were concerned that too many school days were set aside for testing purposes, since the exams require scheduling a 20-day window in the spring for performance-based assessments and a 20-day window at the end of the school year for end-of-course exams.
Read more at Reynoldsburg News