Some students and staff criticize iReady assessment

PHOTO: Students absent during last week’s test made up the iReady assessment in the library on Jan. 26. 

By Bridget Nagle,

BlueDevilHUB.com Staff–

Davis High students took the iReady math and reading diagnostic tests for the second time this year last week.

According to librarian Bruce Cummings, the school district has been using the tests for at least a year in lower grades, but the 2021-22 school year was the first at the high school.

The goal of the test, to be taken three times at intervals throughout the school year, is to give teachers a reference point as to how all of their students are performing and where they may need extra help, but many students and teachers have voiced their discontent.

After each section of the test is completed, the student is able to view an auto-graded score, while teachers have access to other statistics and details. 

Amy Bosworth, one of four inclusion specialists at DHS, says she thinks she has a unique perspective on the subject as a special education teacher. There are students in her class whom she knows won’t be performing at grade level, but wasn’t given very much information as to how her students’ scores are incorporated into the data. 

Bosworth works with speech language pathologist Meleod Larson, who voiced similar concerns. “We’re not sure if our data is being subdivided, like (are) our students skewing data results?”

Bosworth also isn’t able to take the test herself and understand the questions, which she says is something she wants changed. “We don’t often have a say,” Bosworth said.

Not only are there issues on the teacher’s end of the test, but Bosworth brought up that her students weren’t satisfied either. She said there was an “energetic discussion” regarding the test and how they felt it was “too long,” and “a waste of time.”

Senior Tara Reddy says that she doesn’t think that the test is necessary, especially for seniors, and isn’t worth making teachers adjust their schedules to fit in testing time. “The administration hasn’t even shown us that it matters,” Reddy said.

There have also been complaints about the length of the test. Students were given an hour and forty minutes to complete the reading portion of the test and just under two hours for the math portion.

“I can’t sit still for that long,” senior Lilly Skilling said. 

Sophomore Danielle Alexander understands the concept, but has her own grievances with the test. “I get it, it’s supposed to help, but it’s a little too long. … And I feel like there should be a back button.”

Many students have also brought up seeing the same questions on last week’s exam as the first iReady assessment this year. 

“It’s a waste of time,” sophomore Kyle Blewett said. “We did the exact same thing three months ago.”

Cummings says that schools in general often search for the best ways to gauge student progress. “Time will tell if the iReady test is able to provide this kind of information,” Cummings said.