No Second Chances

Once again, we are entering our high stakes testing season. We have given it our all. We have practiced and worked and prepared for the time that is now upon us. According to the federal government, all of our writing efforts for the year come down to how our 47 grade students preform on the writing test they took yesterday and today.
One thing that is so unfair about standardized testing is all of the external factors that effect how a student will preform. In the weeks leading up to the test, we have to do everything we can to ensure that all 47 of our students come to school this week happy, well rested, and well fed.
This was the day - no second chances. Never mind that Jorge might write a better story on a day he has not just had a tooth pulled. No one factors in that Jessie is still upset about an argument on the playground. When they go to look at the success of our school, all the see is a number on a page. They don't have any idea about the real life that happens while those numbers are being produced.
Teachers know - I just head about a friend today that had to pull his car over twice on the way to school to throw up but drug himself into school anyway because it was the day of the state writing test. He knows the potential his absence poses for dramatically lower scores.
Students and teacher alike really do work way too hard for it to have to come down to a single chance.