The State Education Department wants to know what educators think about the grades 3-8 testing program. For example, would you rather have the statewide exams at the end of the school year? Do you think the state should change the format so tests are all multiple-choice questions?

In response to NYSUT's concerns about the 3-8 testing schedule and timeliness of the results, the Board of Regents is considering changes to the 3-8 testing program starting with the 2010-11 school year. NYSUT policy recommends that the grades 3-8 assessment results be returned to teachers in a more timely manner so the results can be used to inform instruction.

The union has also called for a "Regents-like" test period closer to the end of the year, as well as scheduling changes to provide extra time for English language learners and students with disabilities who must take the grades 3-8 testing.

NYSUT is urging members who participate in any part of the testing process — preparation, administration and scoring — to complete the survey that will be available online though the end of February. A link to the survey is posted here:

• http://www.forms2.nysed.gov/emsc/osa/Grades38TestingSurvey.cfm

"It's important for SED to hear from educators in the field," said NYSUT Vice President Maria Neira. The 10-question survey is consistent with the key issues that local leaders, committee members and teachers have brought to NYSUT since the statewide grade 3-8 program began in 2006.

The statewide exams include English language arts in January and math in March.

The Regents are discussing a variety of changes in the grades 3-8 testing program that was implemented to meet No Child Left Behind requirements.

Several Regents have called for moving the tests to later in the school year to ensure 75 to 85 percent of the school year is completed before testing students. Currently the tests are scattered throughout the year.

SED Commissioner Richard Mills noted the state's current testing contract will expire at the end of the 2009-10 school year, so this is the time to decide on changes.

The Regents are considering a new family of tests in the future, including different types of assessments that could measure growth for students who are meeting standards.

The Regents agreed SED needs to report results within a 10-week cycle after the last test administration. In 2006 it took the state 33 weeks to release the ELA scores, but turnaround has improved.

To shorten the time it takes to get results back, the Regents discussed different scoring options, such as a vendor instead of the current local and regional scoring.

SED estimates it would cost between $17 million and $25 million per year to employ a vendor to scan multiple-choice answer sheets, score constructed response items and prepare data to submit for psychometric research.

Changing the test content to multiple-choice questions was discussed only as a cost-saving measure, but Regents agreed the current mix of multiple-choice and open-ended questions is preferable.

- Sylvia Saunders