"YMCA?" This is a comment heard from students in the Annandale School District the past two weeks. The "YMCA" comment from our students has not been in reference to the popular Village People song from 30 years ago. Rather, the YMCA statement coming from our students has been a question – "Why – MCA?" The MCAs students refer to and are asking "why" about are the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments. These are the reading and math tests required of all students in grades three to eight and grades 10 and 11 each year. Students in grades five, eight and 10 also get to take an additional MCA science test. The MCAs are tests required by the state of Minnesota to comply with the federal No Child Left Behind law. The tests are designed to generate one score per grade level in reading and math that the state uses to compare one school district’s performance with another. What is odd about these scores is that they tell the state what they already know, but are unwilling to acknowledge – the level of overall student performance in a school is directly related to the socioeconomic makeup of the community. So the question "Why MCA?" is a very relevant one. n Why disrupt over two weeks of school with testing that generates scores aimed at comparisons of schools that have little in common other than being in the same state? n Why should students be expected to do their best on a test for which they will not receive results for months beyond the current school year? n Why should students be expected to do their best on a test that really has nothing to do with their progress through school? n Why should the state be spending millions each year on testing despite the high predictability of test results based on past experience? n Why does the state invest more money each year to hire private firms to develop even more tests for schools, and yet not provide sufficient funds to operate our schools? n Why does the state continue to refuse to support tests that measure the progress and growth individual students are making in our schools each year in favor of measuring and comparing schools? n Why do area legislators spend time trying to think up a new state song when our schools are drowning in testing that serves little or no purpose? It is time to stop this craziness and listen to our students who ask a great question "Why – MCA?" It is time to develop testing plans in Minnesota schools that serve the needs of the public, yet do not significantly disrupt the education of our students.
Steve Niklaus is superintendent of the Annandale School District.
