TESTING
2006-07

An Urgent Message to Parents About Assessments

Dear Parents:

Most of the students in the Round Valley Schools will be taking statewide assessments in the next few weeks or months.  We urge you to make every effort to make sure that your child is present to participate in this important responsibility. 

First, your child's education will benefit because the assessment data helps us provide more effective teaching.  But there are several other critical concerns that you might not know about:

1.    Our federal funding depends on student participation in assessments.  Because school funding is such a concern today, our federal funding is essential.  Currently, a substantial amount of our budget comes from this source.  Under federal law, we loose some or all of these funds if our students don't participate in this testing program.  We run the risk of having to cut back on programs or staffing - or find other sources of funding.

2.    Extensive changes in school programming, curriculum, and staffing could occur if fewer than 95 percent of our students take the assessments.  The way the federal law is written, unless we have 95 percent participation, we will be labeled as "not making progress" - regardless of how well we perform.  This status starts us down a path that might require dramatic changes to our present format - even if we don't want them.

3.    We urge you to make sure your children are in school for the assessments:

• Because participation helps us improve education for your child and every child;

• Because we risk loosing much-needed federal aid; and

• Because we risk redesigning our educational program unnecessarily.

4.    If you would like to comment on the statewide assessments, please contact the state department of education.  Many parents have expressed concern about various aspects of the statewide assessments, over which we have no control.  If you have this concern, we suggest you contact our state department of education with your concerns.  Arizona Department of Education

If you have further questions about any aspect of this assessment program, please contact your building principal or superintendent of schools.  RVUSD Administration