[NLA] 1999-2000 OVAE Report

[Art LaChance]

Andrea,

Indirectly I think we did lose students as a direct result of NRS implementation,
and most of the providers I'm in communication with think that way also.
Consistent mandatory 'testing' reinserts those adults who more than likely had
great difficulty taking tests in k12 right back into a position to reenergize
some very strong emotional responses to possibility of "failure", so when we
suddenly began regular periodic testing to generate reporting criteria our
attendance numbers began to falter.  Remember that one person's test anxiety may
not have the same impact as anothers.  We had been using TABE prior to this time
in addition to the Practice GED tests, etc, to prepare students for the GED but
there was a more gradual transition to the "testing" environment then.
Overnight, testing became the theme of the day otherwise we wouldn't be able to
produce the level completions that would enable us to report "core indicators"
and in turn demonstrate program effectiveness that appeared to have great bearing
on future funding.

My experiences with our particular ESL group is quite similar.  Most of that
group are Mexican immigrants.  Our beginners classes used to be focused on
conversational English in the classroom bolstered heavily with a computer program
that drew a lot of students.  No "testing" per se.  Suddenly we began placing
these folks in standardized testing formats and they openly resisted continuation
of classes.  Most of these Hispanic students only report 3rd to 6th grade of
schooling in their homeland so I wonder seriously how they see "school", and our
shift to a k12 flavor.  Obviously they really liked the way we did it back a
couple of years ago and don't like it now.

I think one of the factors that is being overlooked here is that adult literacy
cannot generate the mandate for class time nor academic progress so when the
student reaches the point where they feel uncomfortable they leave.  History
repeats itself.

Art



AWilder106 at aol.com wrote:

> Art,
>
> I am a little confused.  Are you saying that you lost students because of the
> NRS reporting requirements?
>
> Andrea
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