Properly calculating school performance

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Recently, our children have come under increased pressure due to a drastic increase in school testing. With the number of testing hours reaching a threshold that bordered on unhealthy for our children, it was clear that the legislature needed to step in to help reduce the stress level placed on the students.

This is why I introduced House Bill 7 last year, which provided safe harbor to students taking the PARCC test. The PARCC test, which has since been a proven failure, already had a safe harbor provision for the teachers and districts, however HB 7 extended that protection to those who need it the most: our children.

Even though HB 7 proposed safe harbor for students many families still chose to “opt-out” their children. The PARCC test was an unproven, untested examination. Following the failure of this test Ohio lawmakers voted to end the PARCC testing ensuring it will not be used in the future.

The state education report card grade is scheduled to be released in February, posing problems for local districts because scores will reflect zeros for students who did not take the PARCC. Projections show that our local schools will see their scores drop as much as 40 points ranking them as D’s or F’s because bureaucrats have refused to recognize the impact of the opposition to PARCC testing.

In order to right this wrong, I am pushing for a bill that will require the Ohio Department of Education to adjust the performance index score on the state report card for students who opted out of the failed PARCC test. This is an emergency measure that needs to be passed this month so our students are not unfairly punished for opting-out of an inadequate standardized test. Without emergency legislation, the Ohio Department of Education will release false scores, eliminating the legislature’s intent for a safe harbor.

We have the best and brightest education minds right here in west-central Ohio. I am confident that if these education professionals come together to develop a program, Ohio will certainly prove to have superior public education.

Please give me your opinion on this topic and others in the news this month by completing an online survey at tinyurl.com/buchyjanuary2016

This undated photo provided by the Ohio House of Representatives shows Rep. Jim Buchy. he Ohio House is expected to consider a bill that would shield the names of companies that provide the state with lethal injection drugs. Buchy is one of the bills sponsors. The bill is among several the House planned to vote on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2014 as lawmakers finish work for the two-year legislative session. The Senate passed it last week. (AP Photo/Ohio House of Representatives)
http://aimmedianetwork.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/34/2016/01/web1_18f02dca703f7e31680f6a7067004435-4.jpgThis undated photo provided by the Ohio House of Representatives shows Rep. Jim Buchy. he Ohio House is expected to consider a bill that would shield the names of companies that provide the state with lethal injection drugs. Buchy is one of the bills sponsors. The bill is among several the House planned to vote on Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2014 as lawmakers finish work for the two-year legislative session. The Senate passed it last week. (AP Photo/Ohio House of Representatives)

By Rep. Jim Buchy

Rep. Jim Buchy can be reached by emailing [email protected] or calling 614-446-6344. Viewpoints expressed in the article are the work of the author. The Daily Advocate does not endorse these viewpoints or the independent activities of the author.

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