ELGIN -- School District U46 parents have mixed reactions about state standardized tests.

Some say the district needs to step up its curriculum so students can have a chance at passing these tests. Others say the intent is good, but that the tests need to be reformed.

But they do agree on one thing: They care about the tests.

"I think that the schools are not failures," said Karla Karstensen, a parent of two children at Hilltop Elementary School on Elgin's northeast side. "But the curriculum needs to be updated and more rigorous if U46 wants to meet the state standards."

She also said that nonnative English-speaking students should be given a test in their native language, rather than an English-formatted test, so students are on a level playing field.

Don Kaiser, a parent of two children at Fox Meadow Elementary School in South Elgin, had a different take.

"I think the intent of these tests is good," he said. "However, how the results are interpreted are very questionable."

He said it's not fair to judge a school or a district by whether it reaches an academic bar set by the state but rather whether it makes progress on a test. He said it's especially unfair to say a school fails because a subgroup -- such as special-needs pupils or nonnative English-speaking students -- doesn't make it.

"Results of a very small amount of students at one school can trigger the ugly 'fail' label despite solid overall results from a school," Kaiser said. "All children have the ability to learn, but all children do not learn at the same rate. We should commend the growth and not punish the achievement that is occurring."

Gary Percy, another U46 parent, said he's not even sure if standardized tests "show true academic progress" because they're a "one-time snapshot."

In any case, parents agree they have a vested interest in standardized tests.

"I do care because the negative publications effect how people perceive the school district," Karstensen said. "Many people are relocating to other suburbs with better reputations for their school districts based on all the negative press U46 has gotten over the years."

"When test time rolls around, I do talk to my children on the importance of these test scores so they are aware to take these tests seriously," she said. "Also, I make sure they get plenty of sleep and have a very healthy breakfast."

Kaiser said he cares because "I want the school system my children attend and I pay taxes into as a homeowner reporting overall progress in student learning."

Percy said he also wants to see progress, but what he cares most about is if his kids made an effort.

"I'd like to think all tests and the results are taken seriously," he said. "However, I try not to overreact to tests. My standard question to my kids is 'Did you try your best?' If so, that's all I, or anyone, can ask."