Congratulations! Our kids can take tests! What kind of problem solvers are they? And what does this data mean when CA is near last in student achievement? Are the we best of the worst? Get rid of the standardized testing. It doesn't measure student achievement on anything except that test. If the time was spent on developing the whole child, and teaching applicable skills outside the classroom-think what those results would look like? A proficiency test doesn't tell us anything except that our teachers have become masters at teaching to that test and that our kids' creativity and passion for learning is being stifled by these tests. Talk about the Race to Nowhere.

Good news. I want my kids to be able to do well on standardized tests. I don't know about you, but I want to know my doctor did well on tests. I want someone to explain how you don't 'teach to the test" in math and science. Looks to me like the teachers in the SRVUSD are being held accountable and doing their jobs well.

Who doesn't want their children to do well on the tests? I think the OP's point was that there's too much money, time and emphasis placed on a test that doesn't measure anything but a student's test taking ability. Wouldn't you rather see your kids solving real world math problems and science labs? Developing writing skills by actually writing and thinking and using grammar correctly in a sentence instead of circling in a bubble that indicates which one is the correct answer? SKILLS that will be used post-high school. As for comparing a medical test for a dr to a standardized test for a 2nd-12th grader-that's absurd. Along with that test-the doctor is required to pass clinicals and rotations. The standardized tests pretty much happen in a vacuum. Last year, when my daughter actually worked on projects (post test time) she wasn't graded on them, there was NO Educational value to them, they were just activities to keep the kids busy until the end of the school year. The system is failing as long as we continue to celebrate pseudo-student achievement based on an API number. I cringe when I hear the principal at my daughter's school celebrate the API score.

in what upside-down world do we hear parents complain when their children have shown discipline and effort by doing well on tests and demonstrating they have learned a great deal of information and skills.
I do believe district children show above average social skills as well and teachers and children should be commended for the fine scores. No one likes tests but studying for them has always been a wonderful stimulant to thoroughly learning a subject.

I completely agree with Francis! STAR testing should be done away with. I am amazed how many parents commend teachers on a job well done, when they really have no idea what goes on in the classroom. You should be commending your students for teaching themselves, because the teachers certainly are teaching them anything. Bubble tests don't give you an accurate picture of what your student has learned. Take some time to read an english essay from your student (and the non-existent comments from the teacher), and then see if the teachers should get all of the praise they do.

Do you really believe that a teacher enjoys teaching to the test?

Did you know the average career length of a new teacher? 4.5 years. No one becomes a teacher because they want to teach to a test.

LOL -- teacher's union must have sent out word to comment on this thread! Only teachers would try to put down emphasis on any measure of their teaching skills.

Fire the teachers whose students did poorly on these tests! Let them go and teach in private schools where they can claim to teach "fluff" that should not be measured.

Wait -- that won't work because private schools won't hire them.