Test stress for adults

Parents find fourth-grade state exam challenging.

By: Donna Lukiw
   Even without the pressure of having to worry about their scores, parents who came to sit down and take the state’s required fourth-grade test at Roosevelt School last week took long, deep sighs, and did plenty of head scratching.
   There was even a touch of panic among some as the clock ticked down their allotted time.
   Since Roosevelt Elementary School fourth-graders will be taking the New Jersey Assessment Skills and Knowledge (NJASK4) test during the week of March 19, parents were invited to see what their children are tested on during NJASK night at Roosevelt Elementary School on Feb. 28.
   "The purpose of tonight is to give you exposure to what your fourth-grade child goes through," Principal Michael Magliacano told the parents before the test.
   And when the results are tabulated by their child’s classroom teachers, there’s likely to be more than a few disappointing scores.
   "It’s crazy what is expected of a 9- or 10-year-old," Mr. Magliacano said.
   When the parents were ready to take the test, they sat at their child’s desk, complete with No. 2 pencils and erasers.
   As the parents began the test, there were sighs, moans and eyebrows raised — the test wasn’t as easy as they thought.
   Since the No Child Left Behind Act was enacted, every state is required to test grades three through eight and assess each student’s critical thinking skills in literacy, math and science.
   Mr. Magliacano said the No Child Left Behind standards keep on rising and by the year 2013 all children in the country are required to 100 percent proficient in language arts, math and science.
   This year, students are required to meet 75 percent proficiency in language arts and 62 percent proficiency in math.
   Parents had to read passages and answer multiply choice and open-ended questions as part of the language arts exam.
   Fourth-graders will take the NJASK IV exam March 19 to 23.