One of the agenda items for the January Diocesan School Board meeting is the grade-by-grade state tests. Working with the State Education Department, we need to decide whether we will continue with the state tests in grades 4 and 8, initiate an additional test in grade 6 or implement the state tests in grades 3 – 8. While the fourth and eighth grade tests give us a snapshot of how our students perform in those two grades regarding the state standards, we may be better served giving the state tests at each grade level.

I also recognize that we do not wish to “over test” our students. If we implement the grade-by-grade testing, we would make the Iowa tests optional within the schools.

I am interested in your perspective as a teacher or administrator within our schools. Go to our website, www.rcdaschools.org, and join in the conversation in my newly posted blog.

Superintendent's Blog