White E Donations
Dear Editor: I want to give my sincere thanks and appreciation to the many Sitkans who so graciously donate quality items to the White Elephant Shop. Without your support we would not be able to provide grants to non-profits or individual assistance to those greatly in need.
Unfortunately some folks are still dropping off items that are totally unsellable and must be thrown away. If you have items that are in need of repair, damaged, badly soiled or stained, please put them in your own garbage can. Our volunteers waste valuable time sorting through items that cannot be used for any purpose.
There is a sign posted by the donation area listing the items we can no longer accept. Please help us out by disposing of those items elsewhere.
Donations can be dropped off when the store is open on Mondays 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., Thursdays and Saturdays noon to 3 p.m., and whenever we have volunteers working. Please look for the large green GO sign and leave the donations in the covered area just behind it. Donations should not be left when the large red STOP sign is showing.
Thank you, Sitka, for your continued support.
Susan Brown, President,
White Elephant Board
School District Report:
‘Common Core’ Myths,
Facts Posted by District
By Mary Wegner, Superintendent,
Sitka School District
The Sitka School District is aware that information is being circulated that has mis-leading or false information regarding the Common Core State Standards and the Alaska Measures of Progress (AMP) online assessment that measures students’ academic knowledge in English Language Arts and Math.
The following has been created to help people understand the difference between the myths circulated and the actual facts. If you have questions, please contact the District Office at 966-1251.
Myth: Students are not required to take the AMP test.
Fact: As required by Alaska Administrative Code, the Sitka School District is required to test all students in grades 3-10 using the new Alaska Measures of Progress (AMP) test. The required AMP tests are taken online and measure a student’s academic achievement in the areas of English Language Arts and Math. In addition, the district is required to test all students in grades 4, 8, and 10 in the area of Science. If a student who is required to the AMP test does not test, then the school district could face disciplinary actions that could include loss of funds.
Myth: Parents can refuse or “opt out” of the AMP test with no impact on the local school or district.
Fact: If a parent refuses to let a student take the AMP test then the Sitka School District must code the reason why the student did not take the test. Refusing to test does negatively impact the school and district’s performance rating, and the district can be sanctioned financially.
Myth: Someone can sit in front of a computer and watch students take the AMP test.
Fact: Students are monitored by trained testing proctors in the testing room only. No software can be used that monitors the student computer screens during the AMP testing process.
Myth: Students are asked questions in the AMP test about family drug/alcohol use and guns in the home.
Fact: The AMP test asks students questions about Reading, Writing, and Math content only.
Myth: Test questions are adjusted based on a student’s race.
Fact: The online assessment is currently a fixed assessment meaning everyone who takes the same test gets the same questions. In 2017 the AMP assessment will be adaptive meaning that everyone starts at the same level, and based on the student’s responses to the first subtest, subsequent subtests will adjust accordingly. The adaptive nature is based on student mastery of standards and not on race.
Myth: Caucasian students are asked harder questions than other students, which means that the Caucasian students will not score as high as they would have.
Fact: Annual Measurable Objectives (AMOs) are designed to move all students to 100 percent proficiency over time. AMOs have a six-year goal to decrease by half the number of students who are not proficient for each of the identified categories (e.g., ethnicity, special education, etc.). Historically, Caucasian students have scored higher than other ethnic groups, which is why they have a different goal; however, regardless of race all students who take the same test gets the same questions.
Myth: Student data is reported and/or sold to individuals and organizations.
Fact: The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development receives individual student results from the testing company, and those results are shared with students, families, and school personnel. Neither the Sitka School District nor the Alaska Department of Education and Early Development report individual student data to any person or organization beyond the students and families, which includes the federal government. The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development has a confidentiality agreement with the testing company that prohibits them from sharing individual student data.
Myth: The P-20W system collects information on individual students for other uses.
Fact: The P-20W system allows The Alaska Department of Education and Early Development to track how successful students are post-secondary so school districts can improve instructional practices.
Myth: The Common Core standards promote theories of evolution and global warming.
Fact: The Common Core standards address Reading, Writing, and Math and do not cover Science, History, or current events.
Myth: The Common Core standards require too much testing and have a focus on testing students.
Fact: Standards and testing are not new. Most students will spend 4-5 hours this year on the AMP tests, which is a significant decrease from the average of 9 hours that the same group of students used to spend in previous years as they completed the paper/pencil tests.
Myth: The federal government does not have jurisdiction over education.
Fact: The United States Constitution identifies education as a state issue. Alaska did not adopt the Common Core but rather adopted standards that are similar to the Common Core, which means the state did make its own decision about the standards adopted.
