Word is starting to trickle in about a brand-new, end-of-year, 11th grade general science test in New Jersey. Best reports indicates that it will be a replacement test for the existing Biology Competency Test (BCT). Best reports also indicate that the test will be administered THIS academic year -- near the end of school year. The test will also be computer-based, similar to the PARCC exams for math and ELA. You might think I'm crazy when I say this, but I think that a high-school comprehensive science test is a good idea. However, I think the roll-out is going to be disastrous. Over the past few years, we have focused much science professional development at the elementary and middle school levels. At the high school level, schools have focused nearly exclusively on biology, as it has been the only science subject tested. Non-bio high school science teachers typically used the excuse that their subjects weren't tested, so they had little incentive to take the migration to NGSS / NJSLS-S seriously. The day of reckoning has come. And that day was a month ago when the school year started. As of this academic year 2017-2018, all science subject matter is fair game for the new (as yet to be named) science comprehensive test, which will be given late-spring 2018. We're busy developing strategies for districts as of this writing. If your district needs help, don't hesitate to reach out. |
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