In less than two weeks, Duncan Middle School students will be taking their state tests in math and English, among other subjects.
The Oklahoma School Testing Program will test students in subjects, according to the set state standards. State testing at DMS will start April 14.
OSTP is the yearly assessments for students in third through eighth grades and 11th grade. The assessments are required by Oklahoma law. State testing is used to measure each student’s mastery of state standards in the selected subjects.
Sixth and seventh-graders are scheduled to test April 14 and 15, when they take their math and reading tests. Eighth-graders will test April 21, 22, 28 and 29, and they will be taking tests in math, reading, writing and science.
One of the tests some eighth-graders are worried about is the writing test, which they have not done previously. This test includes prompts that students have to write responses to.
Students have been preparing in their classes, and some have even taken to test prepping outside of school.
“I use study guides to help me prepare for tests,” eighth-grader Leahanna Airington said.
Until 2022, the State of Oklahoma had a law requiring students to pass the eighth-grade reading test in order to get their driver’s licenses. During this legislative session, the Oklahoma House or Representatives passed a bill to return this requirement. House Bill 1453 passed the Oklahoma House and has headed over to the Senate for consideration.
If this bill passes the Senate, it could return to Oklahoma law for future school years.
Jase Bumpas, DMS seventh-grade student, said he feels OK about the upcoming state tests because students have been taught the standards throughout the school year.
“Teachers are helping us study,” Bumpas said.
This year also marked the addition of Exact Path to help prepare students for state testing. During this year’s advisory classes, students have been expected to spend at least two days a week working on Exact Path.
In fact, during the entire month of March, students participated in a March Madness Exact Path challenge, which required them to complete diagnostics and work toward earning trophies.
