What is a field test?
Field testing allows for test questions to be tried out so the publisher can see how the test question works and determine whether or not to use that question in a future, “actual” test. In other words, field testing ensures the validity and reliability of test questions used in the “actual” test.
What is the purpose of these field
tests?
The New York State Education Department (NYSED) Office of State Assessment declared “field testing is a fundamental part of the test development process, ensuring the validity and reliability of the operational tests. These field tests contain questions that may only be used on New York State tests and benefit only our students and schools.” Students who participate in the NYS Field
Tests do not receive a grade or score.
Can a school district refuse to
administer the field tests?
No, according to a January 2013 NYSED Office of State Assessment memo, “all schools that administer New York State operational tests are also required to administer the field tests associated with those tests.”
A copy of
this NYSED memo can be found at http://www.p12.nysed.gov/assessment/ei/2013/student-participation.pdf
Can a parent/student refuse to take
the NYS Regents exam field tests?
A parent or legal guardian may choose to have their child refuse, or more commonly known as “opt out,” of the NYS Field Test.
At Burr
Intermediate School
Parents/guardians
whose child refused the April 2019 Grade 5 ELA test will not be
administered the upcoming Grade 5 ELA field test.
If a child sat for the April 2019 Grade 5 ELA test and their parent/guardian now chooses to have their child refused the upcoming field test, please refer to the principals’ field test letter for directions. Please click here for the Burr letter.
At
Commack High School and Commack Middle School
Parents/guardians who choose to have their child refuse the NYS Regents Exam field tests as noted below should follow the directions provided on the principals’ field test letter.
Please click here for the Middle School Letter.
Please click here for the High School Letter.
Date
|
School
|
NYS Field Test
|
May 23,
2019
|
Commack Middle School
|
Living Environment
|
May 23,
2019
|
Commack High School
|
Physics
|
May 23,
2019
|
Commack High School
|
Algebra II
|
May 31,
2019
|
Burr Intermediate School, Grade 5
Only
|
ELA 2PT CR
|
Email
Notification
On May 23,
3019, Commack Middle School will be administering the Living Environment Field
Test during their Living Environment class period. Additionally, on May 23,
2019, Commack High School will be administering the Physics and Algebra II
field tests during the corresponding class period. Further, at Burr
Intermediate School only, students in Grade 5 will be administered the
Two-Point Constructed Response sections of the ELA field test on May 31, 2019.
As part of
the test development process, the Office of State Assessment requires districts
to field test questions in schools throughout the State in order to ensure the
validity and reliability of the New York State Testing Program. Further, SED mandates that all schools that
administer New York State operational tests are to administer field tests. Your child will not receive a score or a
grade due to participation in the field test.
The District’s position has been and continues to be that we are against over-testing, and field testing is yet another unnecessary burden in that regard. However, we are required to administer these field tests despite our vociferous objections and advocacy.
In Commack, we believe it is a parents’ right to refuse to have their child sit for these field tests. Should you choose to refuse your child’s participation in a field test, please follow the directions on the principals’ field test letter. These field test letters are being mailed to the homes of students who are enrolled in classes with a field test. Also, the field test letters are posted to the Backpack News.
IMPORTANT
In order to prepare for the field tests, follow the directions on the principals’ field test letter. These letters are both mailed home and posted on Backpack News.