news-record.com

Students in the fourth and seventh grades will have one fewer state exam to take starting next school year.


Should the state have eliminated the writing tests? Join the discussion at the Debatables blog.


The State Board of Education voted Thursday to eliminate the writing test in those grades as part of sweeping changes to its public schools accountability system. Tenth-graders will continue to take the writing test to comply with the federal No Child Left Behind Act.


"What (the state board) heard very clearly from folks ... has been that people believe it's better to assess writing in an ongoing fashion," said Vanessa Jeter, spokeswoman for the N.C. Department of Public Instruction.


The department will be responsible for developing an alternative writing model, one that provides writing assignments for school systems to use in grades kindergarten through 12. Jeter said department officials expect to report back to the board on the new model in August.


The decision both pleased and conflicted educators and school board members in Guilford County.


"It's an interesting development," said board member Dot Kearns. "I'm sure that some people who have felt there's too much testing will find some relief in it."


Some teachers and administrators have complained for years that the writing test was too imprecise and subjective a measure of students' writing ability. They also complained about the pressure on teachers to "teach to the test" instead of exposing students to a variety of writing styles.


Guilford County Schools has tried to strengthen its instruction by training teachers, reviewing students' work throughout the year, and requiring each school to have a formal writing plan.


"It can't just be practicing a couple weeks before the writing test," said Mack McCary, the district's chief academic officer.


Keisha Campbell, a fourth-grade teacher at Erwin Montessori, said she looked forward to seeing the school's writing scores in 2009.


Principal Deborah Parker reported that the percentage of passing fourth-grade exams increased from 33 percent in 2007 to 80.6 percent this year, according to preliminary results.


"On the one hand, I'm relieved," Campbell said. "But at the same time, I'm a little worried that we're not teaching writing the way we should."


Campbell said she thinks teachers and administrators will be tempted to ignore writing to focus on math and reading, which are still tested.


"Teaching writing is my strength," Campbell said. "It makes me sad because I believe it's going to fall by the wayside for those who don't enjoy it."


Susan Fleenor, a writing teacher at High Point Central High School, said she was glad to hear the tenth-grade tests will remain.


"I'm pleased with the tenth-grade test because (students) have a firm foundation to go to Advanced Placement or any other writing course in high school," Fleenor said.


Board member Nancy Routh called the state's decision "a wonderful thing" and said she doesn't think writing will be any more neglected than it has been in the past.


"I'm certainly not saying, 'Hooray, we don't have to teach writing,'" Routh said. "I'm saying, 'Yay, maybe we'll have the chance to teach writing appropriately.'"

Contact Morgan Josey Glover at 373-7078 or morgan.josey@news-record.com