California considers overhauling test of reading instruction for teachers in training

I wish they would eliminate the RICA. Ive already taken the course of reading competence during my credentials program. I believe this is ridiculous to take this exam to become a special education teacher. How is it relevant?!?

I agree with comments of those who attempt this RICA exam multiple times and failed. It’s off-putting. It’s very discouraging and I felt the need to go into another profession because of this. I have attempted and reattempted to finally pass all the CSETs but to only to find out recently they waived them.

Great but now to face another obstacle the RICA. I’m over this state’s exams. I don’t know what other profession had these many exams.

I am a special education intern teacher who have taken the RICA test 6 times without passing. It has costed me a lot of money, the cost for intern classes and the test itself, among all the other private tutoring, etc. The failure to pass the test has cost a lot of stress and financial burden on me. I am a passionate and excellent teacher, who cares a lot about her students. During this pandemic, I had to go door to door to my students to drop off their packets and tablets.

Please help me not to lose my job, eliminate RICA!

I resonate with this so much, I have been teaching for 4 years in various capacities. I am Department Chair of Special Education at a Title 1 school, and teach a Regionalized Placement program for 6-8th grade Middle School students with Social/Emotional needs. I have taken the RICA 5 times, and my confidence it diminished. I have questioned if I even want to teach anymore on so many occasions due to the stress and anxiety I incur simply due to this exam that truly is not a reflection of my abilities, or even what I do as a Special Educator.

This article did provide me a bit of encouragement, as I now know that I am not alone in this fight. I work so hard each and everyday, and in addition, I pay over $2,000 every 8-weeks that I do not pass my exam – (I’m up to 8K in a year+the $171 each exam registration). Tragic, right?

Thanks for writing this, and I could go on and on.

Passing the RICA does not determine if an individual is ready to teach reading. It shows the test taker studied the correct material to pass the test. I would like to know why is it that private schools which charge thousands of dollars, do not require their teachers to pass the CSETs or RICA, or even have a credential. Yet, majority of the parents would do anything to get their kids in to the private schools. Also, private high schools transition into college percentile is always far greater than the public schools. Graduating from colleges with private school students is higher than public.
Yet public school teachers are mandated to pass these crazy tests.
Wake up California!!!!

I just got my results and guess what, again I did not pass! This is my fourth time taking it!

I’ve passed every other test the first time, even the new CALTPA tests California decided to burden teachers with. (If you’re wondering the CALTPA test is $300 for both tests). I have 4 years teaching experience and at this point I just don’t know anymore. These companies that make these tests do not know how difficult it is being a teacher. Pressure for scores, long hours, ridiculous trainings, data review, forced co-teaching, bullying by administrators, constant pulling out of the classroom, IEP meetings, difficult parents, etc. These tests just add up, and when you’re on a budget that $171 hurts.

I’ve gone above and beyond for my students, and have had many great moments teaching. At this point I no longer think it’s worth it. I’ve also been let go every two years for no reason. When I ask why, I am told “in California, we do not have to give you a reason.” I was recently let go again (no reason given) from my teaching position after two years, and now $171 hurts even more. A district near me just laid off 95 teachers, and the year before that it was over 65 teachers. All the tests, time, and money spent just to be let go before you become tenured in your third year, will have anyone asking “why the hell would you want to be a teacher?” Time to find a better job.

I’ve taken this damn test 7 times! I have a Master’s in Special education! My Intern credential will expire soon. Hopefully, my district will get a waiver for me.

This is ridiculous. I received a 4 on the multiple choice and a 4 on the Case study this time, so I’m wondering how did I not pass? It’s like my scores flip-flop each time. California should be ashamed! However, I passed the Single subject English CSET! This makes no sense! These exams prove nothing about how well someone can teach!

I know my job and have no problem doing it with ease. A test does not certify my ability to teach! This system is a scam! I won’t give up because of my love for students and the teaching profession, but California is so off base on what makes a teacher! These exams are grade by someone different each time so It’s all about what they think is right or wrong! Ridiculous! I’ve spent thousands on exams! This should be investigated by the state!

Reading is the greatest gift we can give to our students. Every credential candidate, K-12, should enter the profession knowing how to teach a student to read, regardless of the grade level. The RICA may not be a perfect assessment but it does measure fundamental knowledge and skills for the teaching of reading. As with any assessment, we need to provide RICA test takers with options to show what they know. The video option is a step in the right direction. Aligning the test to the CCSS and requiring all credential candidates (MS, SS, and Ed. Specialist) to take the test is crucial to the success of all students. This is particularly true for our EL population and CA’s recent recognition of dyslexia as a disability.

I’m with Lawrence on not being able to pass the test. I’ve taken RICA multiple times and I can’t pass it. I do not agree with McConnell’s assessment that people who don’t pass this test don’t pass because they struggle with taking tests. That’s an insult to us. We obviously understand testing and have passed our classes throughout college and have made it through our credential programs.
This test is meant to be confusing and rigged to fail. If it’s meant to just see our writing samples, then it should be done away with. We have already jumped through many test hoops to get to this part. We have taken our CBEST, 3 CSETs for multiple subjects, 4 TPAs, and now the never passing RICA. All of the other tests, especially our TPAs have shown our writing samples, differential lesson designs, modifications, etc. Why are we doing more?
Pearson treats us like we are prisoners with their pat-downs and not allowing us even a paper version to be able to look at something tangible in order to assess our cases correctly. It disallows doctor notes, so if you have arthritis and need to periodically stand in the 4 hour test, you’re screwed! Instead of freezing this low passage test, CTC decided to extend our CSET another 5 years. Donnie we can take 10 years to pay $171 every 45 days to try to pass RICA. What a joke!

Bottom line: These tests are a cash cow for CTC and Pearson, so if we get to the point of there being no future teaching credential candidates because of the massive tests and high failure rate, they’ll still come up with another test to make more money.

Proof positive that the problems in our system will endure. How about we stop testing for early signs of Diabetes or dumb down the Bar for attorneys (that is actually in the works in California for the exact same reason) – everyone cool if their pilots or doctors use their ‘classroom work’ before you entrust them with your life?

It’s not the test it’s the instruction. Here is the sentence devoted to early reading instruction, probably the most important predictor of student outcomes there is in the Teacher Performance Expectations, a 51-page document. “They understand the role of foundational reading skills assessment and instruction in early grades and are equipped to teach these skills effectively.”

What few people understand about the racial/ethnic impact of a test like this is that a less difficult test will commonly show smaller relative (percentage) racial/ethnic differences in pass rates, but larger relative racial/ethnic differences in failure rates, than the current test. One can even see the pattern in the data cited. The relative difference between minority and overall rates of passing the test on the first try are greater than the relative difference between minority and overall rates of eventually passing; but the relative difference between minority and overall rates of failing the test on the first try are smaller than relative differences in never passing. Few understand this pattern, however. Probably fewer still understand that an easier test will cause minorities to make up both a higher proportion of those who pass the test and a higher proportion of those who fail the test than they currently do.
See my “The Perils of Provocative Statistics,” Public Interest (Winter 1991) regarding a challenge to a Georgia teacher competency test that was premised on the mistaken belief that an easier test would cause African Americans to make up a smaller, rather than larger, proportion of persons disqualified. The issue is no better understood today than it was in 1991. If it was, neither the U.S. Department of Education nor others would think that restricting the use of restraints will tend to reduce, rather than increase, the proportion students with disabilities make up of restrained students, which is the premise of the Kerri K. v. California putative class action discussed in a May 20 EdSource article.

Why aren’t people getting it? The reason students don’t pass the RICA is because they receive little if any instruction in the science of reading and how to effectively teach it. My daughter just completed her multiple subjects teaching credential but had no coursework in the science of reading and how to teach reading. Let alone any coursework in how to address reading problems or disabilities such as dyslexia. She will take the RICA this summer and it’s her responsibility to pay for preparation classes and study for the RICA.

Almost every major study on improving student learning and student achievement shows that increasing the competency for teachers is the way to go. Start by teaching them the science of reading and how to effectively teach reading. Stop lowering the standards for teachers! Increase standards for teaching, increase teacher competency, increase respect for teachers, and increase salary and benefits for teachers so that ultimately student achievement will increase!

Thank you for posting this. Fortunately, I passed the RICA on the first try. I believe that because I have already been teaching reading intervention, I was aware of many of the strategies. However if a person has not been exposed to this, I could see how the test could prove to be difficult.

Now, I can’t say the same for the CSET. It has been a struggle. I passed subset 1 and 3 but struggled with 2. Currently I’m working with Moderate/Severe and Severely Handicapped students. Since I have not passed it yet I will have to leave the classroom. This is sad because I love my students and the parents are pleased with their children’s progress. Now there will be another special education teacher position open. This has got to change! We are literally losing teachers. Thankfully my degree is acceptable for other companies in which I have gotten plenty of offers.