Guest blog from Jodi Mackley. Jodi is an advocate for public education, BLM curriculum, and creative writing for all students. She taught secondary English in the same public school district for 30 years, and now enjoys “retirement” in a much smaller (though public) school setting.
Next month, I may have to give the MStep test to my high school students, most of whom are English Language Learners. This is my first year teaching them. I don’t need to spend a week or more discouraging them with badly written test questions (which I did not create, do not see ahead of time and won’t get to see afterward). %#*!? is what I have to say about that.
Do ELLs really have to take this test?
Can ELLs get support?
Are ELLs scored the same as non-ELLs?
Heck, who is the bottom-line-authority forcing all kids to take this test? And why can’t caring adults cry out for transparency, change, revolution? For some answers, I went to the Migration Policy Institute for some facts. Only one statement stuck with me:
“Michigan administers the MStep for accountability purposes.”
Accountability? Sounds like someone has been naughty. Is it me? I know it’s not my students. They are the last ones to complain about tasks thrust upon them. It’s true. They are happily embracing their American freedoms.
We expect language learners to be English proficient within six years. Really? Are the test makers fluent in other languages? Can they read culturally biased questions, CONTINUE READING: Get rid of the damn test! | Teacher in a strange land