SMUHSD has proposed a completely AT-HOME, ONLINE AP testing schedule for all of its students. They made this CHOICE, when they had the option of the traditional administration of these tests in-school, paper-and-pencil.
This schedule not only has some students taking AP exams a full TWO WEEKS after school is complete, but also forces students to take significantly more difficult, more complicated versions of the AP exams.
We request that the District re-visit this schedule and do its best to move as many of these AP exams back into May, as well as ensure that as many of these exams as possible are given IN-SCHOOL, PAPER-AND-PENCIL. This may result in re-scheduling of some final exams or finding creative solutions but we are confident that our district can find a better solution than what is currently proposed. There are other options available. In fact:
- College Board has advised that schools schedule in-person, paper-and-pencil versions of the test (the original May offering - “Administration 1”), and use the later online versions as a BACKUP.
- From the College Board: “the coordinator should leave their exam order set for Administration 1 and switch later if necessary.”
- College Board has actually advised that the online, at-home version of the test is a LAST RESORT, if schools are unable to do in-person testing. Our district is using this option as their PRIMARY choice.
- From the College Board: “Schools can authorize students to take these exams securely at home, if needed, providing a testing option for schools that are closed or have students who are unable to test in person for safety reasons.”
Problems with the proposed ALL-DIGITAL, AT-HOME AP Testing Schedule:
- The digital format of the AP exams puts our students at a disadvantage during the test:
- THE APPLICATION WILL NOT ALLOW STUDENTS TO RETURN TO ANSWERED QUESTIONS OR MOVE BACK-AND-FORTH BETWEEN UNANSWERED QUESTIONS. This will not allow students to take tests as they have been taught to take them - skipping hard problems and coming back to them later, and giving them the opportunity to check their answers if they finish early. Schools taking live, paper-and-pencil versions will not have this restriction.
- STUDENTS WILL HAVE TO TYPE OUT THEIR ANSWERS. This is extremely difficult for math and science tests, where it will take significantly longer to type out mathematical or scientific equations as opposed to writing them by hand. The College Board has even acknowledged teachers “prefer in-school paper and pencil contingency options to digital options because the free-response questions require complex symbols that can’t be easily typed with a keyboard.” Again, schools taking live, paper-and-pencil versions will not have this restriction.
- ANTI-CHEATING SOFTWARE WILL NEED TO BE INSTALLED, CAMERAS WILL BE ON. This software is notorious for flagging false-positives and even if the software falsely determines there is “an issue” with a student’s test, their test may be INVALIDATED.
- The online test is forcing students to become SYSTEM ADMINISTRATORS, installing software 1-3 days before the test and hoping it runs successfully (Note that for more than half of these tests, school will be out, thus students may not be able to consult teachers or administrators for help)
- From the College Board:
- “Schools must ensure that all students complete all required readiness steps before exam day.
- Students will need to be able to install the testing application on their computer. If students are using school- or district-managed devices, the application will need to be pushed down centrally or permission to access the application will need to be granted.
- Students will need to complete exam setup ahead of each exam day on the specific computer that they plan to use for testing. Exam setup will be available 3 days before exam day and must be completed no later than the day before exam day.”
- “Schools must ensure that all students complete all required readiness steps before exam day.
- From the College Board:
- More than half of these scheduled AP exams are a full TWO WEEKS after school has completed. People have already scheduled summer activities and trips/vacations, etc.
- The district has, in essence, extended the school year by two weeks with no input from students or parents.
- Any technical glitch (installation problems, connectivity issue, power, etc.) will result in test invalidation. Recall the online version of AP testing from 2020 when dozens of SMUHSD students had their online AP exams invalidated, forcing them to re-take the exams.
Updates
February 27, 2021
Reaching two hundred and fifty signatures serves as a clear reminder that many of us share the same concerns regarding the upcoming testing schedule. This momentum suggests that our district should reconsider the current plan in favor of more traditional options. I appreciate the time everyone has taken to engage with this issue.
Reached 250 supporters
February 26, 2021
February 24, 2021
Reaching this level of support confirms that many of us recognize the urgency of addressing these testing conditions. It is heartening to see how clearly our community understands that these logistical choices have a direct impact on our academic well-being.
February 21, 2021
Reaching one hundred signatures confirms that many families share this frustration regarding the current testing schedule. It is clear that we value a more traditional and predictable approach to academic assessment.
Reached 100 supporters
February 20, 2021
60 Comments
Extending half the exam dates into June needlessly disadvantages our students. The schools should easily be able to accommodate in person testing, with appropriate distancing. Students will be masked, and by definition, not talking, so with teachers all vaccinated, risk is non material. Let’s support our students efforts, rather than disadvantage them!
Imagine studying for an entire year only to fail due to a technical glitch. This is unacceptable, as schools can easily accommodate testing sites 6’ apart, masked, with open doors in May. It to mention that skipping difficult questions and returning to them as time permits is essential in these tests and will be unavailable.
My child has taken AP test online last year and the experience was awful. If we can take regular test I would avoid the online test altogether. School is moving forward with a on site SAT test. Why can't we have it for AP tests too?
We’re in California, with some tents put up for shade, they could take the tests outside! I would be happy to volunteer to supervise if volunteers were needed to make it work.
I have 3 seniors taking multiple tests. If nothing changes by next weekend, we will withdraw and request refund. June testing is not acceptable.
The AP exams should be scheduled in May, not after school is out. It's been a very difficult year for our students, and they need to be able to enjoy their summer break. In-person exams should also be an option. Thanks for reconsidering your decision.
Did you check with students and parents before announcing this schedule? Please consider moving AP tests back during the school schedule.
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SMUHSD has proposed a completely AT-HOME, ONLINE AP testing schedule for all of its students. They made this CHOICE, when they had the option of the traditional administration of these tests in-school, paper-and-pencil.
This schedule not only has some students taking AP exams a full TWO WEEKS after school is complete, but also forces students to take significantly more difficult, more complicated versions of the AP exams.
We request that the District re-visit this schedule and do its best to move as many of these AP exams back into May, as well as ensure that as many of these exams as possible are given IN-SCHOOL, PAPER-AND-PENCIL. This may result in re-scheduling of some final exams or finding creative solutions but we are confident that our district can find a better solution than what is currently proposed. There are other options available. In fact:
- College Board has advised that schools schedule in-person, paper-and-pencil versions of the test (the original May offering - “Administration 1”), and use the later online versions as a BACKUP.
- From the College Board: “the coordinator should leave their exam order set for Administration 1 and switch later if necessary.”
- College Board has actually advised that the online, at-home version of the test is a LAST RESORT, if schools are unable to do in-person testing. Our district is using this option as their PRIMARY choice.
- From the College Board: “Schools can authorize students to take these exams securely at home, if needed, providing a testing option for schools that are closed or have students who are unable to test in person for safety reasons.”
Problems with the proposed ALL-DIGITAL, AT-HOME AP Testing Schedule:
- The digital format of the AP exams puts our students at a disadvantage during the test:
- THE APPLICATION WILL NOT ALLOW STUDENTS TO RETURN TO ANSWERED QUESTIONS OR MOVE BACK-AND-FORTH BETWEEN UNANSWERED QUESTIONS. This will not allow students to take tests as they have been taught to take them - skipping hard problems and coming back to them later, and giving them the opportunity to check their answers if they finish early. Schools taking live, paper-and-pencil versions will not have this restriction.
- STUDENTS WILL HAVE TO TYPE OUT THEIR ANSWERS. This is extremely difficult for math and science tests, where it will take significantly longer to type out mathematical or scientific equations as opposed to writing them by hand. The College Board has even acknowledged teachers “prefer in-school paper and pencil contingency options to digital options because the free-response questions require complex symbols that can’t be easily typed with a keyboard.” Again, schools taking live, paper-and-pencil versions will not have this restriction.
- ANTI-CHEATING SOFTWARE WILL NEED TO BE INSTALLED, CAMERAS WILL BE ON. This software is notorious for flagging false-positives and even if the software falsely determines there is “an issue” with a student’s test, their test may be INVALIDATED.
- The online test is forcing students to become SYSTEM ADMINISTRATORS, installing software 1-3 days before the test and hoping it runs successfully (Note that for more than half of these tests, school will be out, thus students may not be able to consult teachers or administrators for help)
- From the College Board:
- “Schools must ensure that all students complete all required readiness steps before exam day.
- Students will need to be able to install the testing application on their computer. If students are using school- or district-managed devices, the application will need to be pushed down centrally or permission to access the application will need to be granted.
- Students will need to complete exam setup ahead of each exam day on the specific computer that they plan to use for testing. Exam setup will be available 3 days before exam day and must be completed no later than the day before exam day.”
- “Schools must ensure that all students complete all required readiness steps before exam day.
- From the College Board:
- More than half of these scheduled AP exams are a full TWO WEEKS after school has completed. People have already scheduled summer activities and trips/vacations, etc.
- The district has, in essence, extended the school year by two weeks with no input from students or parents.
- Any technical glitch (installation problems, connectivity issue, power, etc.) will result in test invalidation. Recall the online version of AP testing from 2020 when dozens of SMUHSD students had their online AP exams invalidated, forcing them to re-take the exams.
Updates
February 27, 2021
Reaching two hundred and fifty signatures serves as a clear reminder that many of us share the same concerns regarding the upcoming testing schedule. This momentum suggests that our district should reconsider the current plan in favor of more traditional options. I appreciate the time everyone has taken to engage with this issue.
Reached 250 supporters
February 26, 2021
February 24, 2021
Reaching this level of support confirms that many of us recognize the urgency of addressing these testing conditions. It is heartening to see how clearly our community understands that these logistical choices have a direct impact on our academic well-being.
February 21, 2021
Reaching one hundred signatures confirms that many families share this frustration regarding the current testing schedule. It is clear that we value a more traditional and predictable approach to academic assessment.
Reached 100 supporters
February 20, 2021
60 Comments
I feel these tests are stressful enough for the student to prepare for and execute that adding the possibility of application and network issues invalidating their their responses is not worth introducing. I am also concerned how the student will be able to properly enter free form responses for the math and science subjects. Thank you
Extending half the exam dates into June needlessly disadvantages our students. The schools should easily be able to accommodate in person testing, with appropriate distancing. Students will be masked, and by definition, not talking, so with teachers all vaccinated, risk is non material. Let’s support our students efforts, rather than disadvantage them!
Imagine studying for an entire year only to fail due to a technical glitch. This is unacceptable, as schools can easily accommodate testing sites 6’ apart, masked, with open doors in May. It to mention that skipping difficult questions and returning to them as time permits is essential in these tests and will be unavailable.
My child has taken AP test online last year and the experience was awful. If we can take regular test I would avoid the online test altogether. School is moving forward with a on site SAT test. Why can't we have it for AP tests too?
We’re in California, with some tents put up for shade, they could take the tests outside! I would be happy to volunteer to supervise if volunteers were needed to make it work.
I have 3 seniors taking multiple tests. If nothing changes by next weekend, we will withdraw and request refund. June testing is not acceptable.
The AP exams should be scheduled in May, not after school is out. It's been a very difficult year for our students, and they need to be able to enjoy their summer break. In-person exams should also be an option. Thanks for reconsidering your decision.
Did you check with students and parents before announcing this schedule? Please consider moving AP tests back during the school schedule.
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I feel these tests are stressful enough for the student to prepare for and execute that adding the possibility of application and network issues invalidating their their responses is not worth introducing. I am also concerned how the student will be able to properly enter free form responses for the math and science subjects. Thank you