One less penalty? CSAP bill could benefit schools’ ratings

MONTROSE  — Schools will have one less “penalty” to worry about if HB 1186 makes its way through the Colorado General Assembly.

HB 1186 passed the Colorado House last week and is now in the hands of the senate’s education committee. The bill, which has strong support from educators, would eliminate the penalty schools receive if a parent chooses not to have their child participate in the Colorado Student Assessment Program.

The bill states, “The formula for calculating academic performance ratings unfairly penalizes a school for each student who misses one of the (CSAP tests), regardless of why the student did not take the test and regardless of the student’s actual knowledge level with respect to the subject matter.”

From third to 10th grade, students are required to take the CSAP tests; however the decision is ultimately the parents. The student’s scores are used throughout the year for state required reports which rate academic performance, such as a school district’s No Child Left Behind Adequate Yearly Progress reports.

A school’s and its district’s goal is to make AYP each year. To do so, certain criteria must be met. Falling short in one area results in not meeting AYP. If a student does not take the test, then a zero score is recorded. If a lot of zero scores are given, it could affect a district’s chance of receiving AYP.

HB 1186 would eliminate the zero penalty.

District Assessment Coordinator Laura Burris said there are a handful of students who opt out of the tests each year, but the percentage doesn’t affect the district too much.

“If this passes, it might give us a little bump, but it won’t be noticeable,” she said.

The bill also addresses scores which are given if a teacher inadvertently fails to follow the Colorado Department of Education’ guidelines for administering the test.

In this situation currently, every student would receive a zero score, again affecting academic performance ratings.

One reason for the HB 1186, as stated in the bill, is that the ultimate choice about education should be the parent’s. Even though federal law requires schools to encourage participation in the test, the state must recognize and honor a parent’s choice in regard to their child’s education, and not penalize the school for that choice.

Rep. Ray Rose, R-Montrose, said he agrees parents should have the choice, but if a student doesn’t take the test, then a zero is an appropriate score.

“In giving the parent the option to opt out, they still have the choice, but along with that they also have to suffer the ramifications of that decision, which is lowering the score of their school,” he said.

Rose was among the 11 legislatures who voted against the bill in the house, and he stands by his decision.

“When we start exempting certain groups and certain people, that’s a slippery slope,” he said. “We should test everyone and let the schools come out where they fall. To exempt someone ... because they are not there because they don’t want to take the test, that is wrong. If we exempt someone, then where do we stop?”

Contact Kati O’Hare via e-mail at katio@montrosepress.com