At Gunn鈥檚 March 12 site-council meeting, parents, students, staff and administrators discussed state-mandated testing, mental health surveys, summer homework, AP class rigor and a shift from grade- to mastery-oriented learning. With the California Assessment of Student Performance and Progress planned for the week of March 25, the meeting focused on the importance of student participation.聽聽
According to the CAASPP Parent Information Night slideshow, CAASPP test data measures PAUSD鈥檚 鈥渆quity, access and opportunity growths and weaknesses for student subgroups.鈥� The federal funding Gunn receives also depends on the CAASPP test: If the participation rate drops below 95%, the school won鈥檛 receive funding and will thus have less money to work with. Junior Site Council Representative Chloe Wang noted that state testing allows PAUSD and Gunn to better understand and address students鈥� educational needs.
鈥�(State testing) allows funding to be allocated properly, targeted strategies to be created and evidence-based innovation to thrive so that every student can succeed at our school,鈥� she told 麻豆放映免费.
In an interview with 麻豆放映免费, Principal Dr. Wendy Stratton voiced concerns about students鈥� failure to participate.聽聽
鈥�By not taking the assessment, it鈥檚 actually undermining (Gunn鈥檚 performance) because then you are given a zero, and that averages into the rest of our overall score for Gunn and brings us down automatically,鈥� she said.
By not taking the assessment, it鈥檚 actually undermining (Gunn鈥檚 performance) because then you are given a zero, and that averages into the rest of our overall score for Gunn and brings us down automatically.
— Principal Dr. Wendy Stratton
According to the CAASPP Parent Night Information slideshow, state testing is also a way for students to qualify for the State Seal of Biliteracy and the Golden State Seal Merit Diploma, as well as bypass introductory English and math courses at California State schools. Stratton added that testing can also affect students鈥� college applications.
鈥�Look at it from a college鈥檚 perspective, like, 鈥業 have two of the same students with the same profile, and roughly a similar transcript, but they鈥檙e coming from two different schools,鈥欌�� she said in an interview. 鈥淎 college may say, 鈥業鈥檓 going to pull up those two schools to see how they perform. Is it the same?鈥欌��
With these motivations, Stratton encourages students to take 鈥� and do their best on 鈥� the CAASPP.聽
鈥淭here鈥檚 nothing to lose by trying, and so in a way it鈥檚 like engaging in an assessment or giving your attention to something because you have to do it anyway,鈥� she told 麻豆放映免费. 鈥淚鈥檓 hoping that we get a true reflection of our impacts, so that we can reflect on our ways.鈥�
The meeting also shifted gears to other topics, including mental health and summer homework for advancement placement classes. Sophomore Site Council Representative Deven Sharma believes the mental health programs at Gunn have improved since the beginning of the year.
鈥淚 feel that mental health has improved and I do feel that people are reaching out more and getting the support they need,鈥� he said in an interview. 鈥淭he resources that we have really helped, like the Wellness Center and the therapists. I feel like talking to a friend really, really helps too because I know if I鈥檓 stressed out, talking to them makes me feel better.鈥�
The next site council meeting will be April 16鈥檚 Data Night.
