STAR test schedule reverts to original

The administration proposed changing the three-day STAR test schedule to an eight-day testing period earlier this year. However, the administration has now decided to instead revert to the traditional three-day STAR schedule the school has used every year.

“After talking with the administrative counsel level, we felt we needed to go back to the old schedule because we hadn’t done enough prep work or given the teachers enough notice for the change,” Principal Wynne Satterwhite said. “Plus, both schools scored so well last year [within the regular testing period.]”

This alternative schedule involved extending the STAR testing to two weeks, from Monday, April 19 to Friday, April 30. Students would have received 2 hours in the morning to take a part of the test, a short break and then attend their regular classes scheduled in a 60-minute block format immediately afterward.

According to physics teacher Karen Davis, one of the reasons for attempting to change the STAR schedule earlier this year was the concern about seniors being off campus for days at a time, as the regular STAR schedule allows them a three-day break.

Davis liked that the proposed schedule spread the tests out but was concerned about the extended amount of time given for each test.

“I [found it very] frustrating that there [was] so much downtime,” she said.

Many students said they preferred the traditional STAR testing schedule as they felt dragging out the test could cause students additional stress.

“I personally think that getting over with STAR testing as soon as possible would cause me less stress,” junior Jose Villanueva said. “Once I’m in testing mode, I’m in the zone, [and] having to do that for several days just wouldn’t work out for me. Making it two weeks would just throw my whole schedule off for a much longer period of time.”

With the proposed schedule, seniors would not have been allowed on campus while testing was in progress but would have been required to attend all classes after testing. Now, however, they are no longer required to attend school during the STAR testing period, except for a two to three hour presentation on Wednesday, April 21 at 8:15 a.m. in the Eagle Theatre. This presentation will involve a final check-out for graduation, reports of any money dues or lost books, and notifications for students in danger of failing any of their classes. Seniors will also have the chance to meet with their counselors and talk to College/Career Center Coordinator Kristin Joseph about the possible colleges they will attend next year.

For the rest of the week, seniors will have to sign an independent study contract stating that they will be working on their senior projects, doing community service or looking at colleges while the rest of the school is STAR testing.

“Sticking to the original schedule gives me extra time to visit colleges I could be interested in going tonext year,” senior James Gray said. “But most importantly, it finally allows me to relax.”