I talk about my high school all the time with teachers. I loved my high school experience and still maintain contact with a few key teachers! I am proud to be a BA Tiger!

Quote: "I think it's nonsensical in this 21st century that we are not having students use the tools at the appropriate time and at the appropriate level because these are the tools that they will be using as they advance through school and in the work world," she said.

At least someone has some sense. The more we take calculators out of the classroom, the more "magical and mysterious" they become for kids... and they don't ever learn how to use them effectively. If they have access to them and use them appropriately, they will still learn their basic facts, but be able to engage in higher order thinking as well.

I try to do all this with daughter!!

Children are not statistics.
I love math and I especially love statistics, but the human element...motivation, good teachers, increased rigor in the classroom, ect, ect ect, ALL play into any test score and those things can not be quantified and turned into statistics.

""Much of what I heard at the meeting yesterday was concern with the law itself," Gardenhire said. "If individuals have concerns about the law, they should address that to the Legislature. We are in the rules-making process, which is simply about implementation of the law.""

I didn't notice people concerned with the "law" itself, that seemed to be a non-issue. The concern is all about implementation. I am really confused by Gardenhire's comment. Did he just miss the point or is he ignoring the point and hoping he can change it? What a mess!

I like the discriptors on the labels
A: Excellent progress
B: Above-average progress
C: Satisfactory progress
D: Less-than-satisfactory progress
F: Failing to make adequate progress

C should be "Average," but just as in our schools, A has come to mean average and C is not acceptable to many parents and adults. There are so many ways in the IMPLEMENTATON of this law that allows for miscommunication or misuse of communicaiton with parents and communities.

It is going to be an interesting year...

I think I need a new career...any politician openings? I have some ideas and proposals.

What frustrates me the most about these "education reforms" is the misunderstandings and prejudices and misconceptions of the general public.

This is not what OK needs. Very sad indeed...on both sides.

“We should be looking at using a handful of reliable and proven instruments, like the ACT and the Iowa tests, and not the mishmash of standardized tests ... the state now has...."

hmmm....

interesting.... that's for sure