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PAC presses district on test participation, opt‑outs and attendance declines
Summary
Parents and staff discussed how opt‑outs and nonparticipation affect OSAS results, noted declines in attendance, and explored strategies — including interim assessments, themed test weeks and greater student leadership involvement — to boost participation and improve outcomes.
At the Nov. 6 Parent Advisory Council meeting, district staff presented 2024–25 assessment results and warned that falling participation and attendance were affecting OSAS outcomes, particularly in 5th and 8th grade math. Chair S1 said participation rate matters because students who do not take the state assessment count as “does not meet.”
Parents asked whether the district tracks reasons for opt‑outs and how the district can educate families about the importance of participation. Staff described attempts to follow up: principals sometimes meet individually with parents who opt out and the district encourages parents to sit in on guest presentations to see content first‑hand.
The council discussed instructional and outreach strategies used or being scaled district‑wide: interim assessments tied to the curriculum map to replicate the look and login process of state tests; replicating successful school practices such as themed test weeks and incentive activities; and using ESD consultants and teacher collaboration to target standards. S4 said interims are now built into the curriculum map and test weeks will be communicated district‑wide.
Members recommended involving student leadership and student advisory councils to surface barriers to attendance and motivate peers; S9 described regular monthly meetings between district staff and student leaders at Grants Pass High School and agreed to ask student leaders about attendance barriers and test participation.
No policy action was taken; the council asked staff to continue outreach and report back on participation metrics and on any pilot efforts to increase student engagement.
