Warning

JUser: :_load: Unable to load user with ID: 770

Friday, 19 September 2014 10:01

So Long, Regents

By | News

La Salle Institute Does Away With State Tests

TROY – In the midst of heated debate regarding education curriculum between parents, school districts and New York State, one area school has decided against participating in the Regents Examinations beginning this school year.

La Salle Institute, an independent, Catholic college preparatory school for young men in grades 6-12, recently announced the elimination of grade 9-12 Regent Exams. The move follows La Salle’s decision last year to eliminate the grade 3-8 exams.

“It was discussed over a number of years here,” said Principal of La Salle Institute, Brother Carl Malacalza, FSC. “The thing that stalled it a bit in the end, in terms of the decision, was the fact that Common Core corrected some of the issues that myself and the teachers felt were present with the Regents program.”

After analyzing parent focus groups, having numerous discussions with educators, and reviewing the options available with the Regents Exams and Common Core, Malacalza said school officials felt their students are receiving the Common Core education, but without the testing, which is the best option for the students.

“The Regents forced you into a curriculum that really touched on so many topics, that a teacher couldn’t really prepare students without a lot of drill and a lot of test preparation,” said Malacalza. “The kids weren’t really learning what they needed to learn.”

Regents Exams for all subjects – English, foreign language, mathematics, social studies and science, have been eliminated at La Salle Institute.  Malacalza said the decision was motivated by the school’s mission to best prepare students for higher education.  Scores from Regents Exams have not been included on La Salle’s student transcripts for the last five years, and Malacalza said most colleges and universities haven’t asked to see them. La Salle’s Class of 2014, comprised of 90 graduates, was accepted into 176 different colleges.

Doing away with the statewide standardized testing also allows for more instruction time, adding two additional weeks of instruction at the end of the year and during the course of year, when that time would otherwise be allocated for test preparation. Malacalza said more instruction time is the main advantage of this decision.

“We’ve made a commitment to Common Core without the testing,” said Malacalza. “We’re trying to get the students engaged in learning. We’re going to do it at a pace that we think is going to meet the needs of our kids. We’re going to grow, but we’re going to grow at a pace that creates excitement and learning for our kids.”

Public school districts such as Saratoga Springs, Schuylerville and Ballston Spa, don’t have the option to eliminate Regents Exams from their curriculums.

La Salle Institute is currently planning an open house for those interested in learning more about the school on Wednesday, Nov. 5 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.  

Read 12072 times

Blotter

  • New York State Police The New York State Police announced that it issued 5,576 tickets during this year’s St. Patrick’s Day enforcement initiative. The campaign began on Friday, March 15, and continued until Sunday, March 17. During the campaign, funded by the Governor’s Traffic Safety Committee, State Police utilized sobriety checkpoints, additional DWI patrols, and underage drinking and sales to minors detail. State Police also ticketed distracted drivers who use handheld electronic devices. State Troopers arrested 132 people for DWI and investigated 199 crashes, which resulted in 25 people being injured and no fatalities. As part of the enforcement, Troopers also…

Property Transactions

  • BALLSTON Heather DiCaprio sold property at 473 Garrett Rd to Justine Levine for $288,000 Sharon Willman sold property at 99 Jenkins Rd to Charles Lemley for $165,000 CORINTH George Montena sold property at 422 Oak St to Stephen James for $142,250 Mark Makler sold property at 313 Oak St to Sabrina Sinagra for $195,000 GREENFIELD Landlord Services of Upstate New York sold property at 1935 NYS Rt 9N to Cochise Properties LLC for $210,000 MALTA  Linda LaBarge sold property at 35 Snowberry Rd to Qu Haozheng for $270,000 Dennis Mitchell sold property at 60 Village Circle North to BGRS Relocation…
  • NYPA
  • Saratoga County Chamber
  • BBB Accredited Business
  • Discover Saratoga
  • Saratoga Springs Downtown Business Association