State testing set to start with changes at Oklahoma schools

Tulsa, Okla. (KTUL) — State testing begins in just a few days in Oklahoma but this year will be different for students and testing administrators.

Graduation is no longer tied to the performance on end-of-instruction tests. Students will still be tested in math, English, science and history, but they will not face the possibility of not graduating because of the test.

Also this year, high school juniors will take the SAT college prep test, when last year they were all given the ACT. The college prep exams are a standardized way to judge student’s academic progress and provide them with a tool for higher education.

At Central High School, Guy Yose, academic counselor and testing coordinator, says the district has been preparing to do their testing in only two weeks instead of six weeks like last year.

“We have to provide proctors. We have to get rooms set up. Make sure technology is ready. We don’t have a very large window if we have problems,” explained Yose.

In the past years, schools have seen testing shut down over technical issues. But Yose says this year the district has been testing the system, with new computers and laptops, and even testing students.

“We go through a pre-test practice to make sure the technology is up and running. We also do a lot of preparatory work with the students. We have practice tests,” said Yose.

He says Central has all of the testing volunteers needed. But he says with a shortened window of testing, other schools may need parents to serve as proctors, and administer tests to students.