A press release this morning from ASCD:
In a statement released today, ASCD calls on policymakers to institute a two-year moratorium on using new state standardized assessments for accountability purposes.
“This does not mean we should do away with testing,” said David Griffith, ASCD director of public policy. “But we must recognize there is an imbalance. A two-year break from the high stakes attached to the tests will allow states to administer the assessments and share the results with districts, schools, and families, while providing schools with adequate time to thoughtfully consider and address student performance.”
Read the full statement and watch a video of David Griffith discussing its contents at http://www.ascd.org/moratorium.
To learn more about the statement, the value of a new accountability model, and how educators can get involved, read the full release below or at this link: http://www.ascd.org/news-media/Press-Room/News-Releases/ASCD-demands-moratorium.aspx
Regards,
Ross
Ross Romano · Publicist
1703 N. Beauregard Street · Alexandria, VA 22311-1714
P 703.575.5607 · M 571.282.1612 · http://www.ascd.org · http://www.wholechildeducation.org
Contacts:
Ross Romano, publicist, 1-703-575-5607 or by e-mail.
Katie Test, communications director, 1-703-575-5608 or by e-mail.
Education Association Demands Two-Year Moratorium on High-Stakes Testing
Alexandria, VA (2/9/2015)—In a statement released today, ASCD calls on policymakers to institute a two-year moratorium on using new state standardized assessments for accountability purposes. High-stakes decisions about student readiness, teacher performance, and school quality should never be based on a single assessment. The hiatus will allow time for policymakers and education leaders to design and implement a new accountability model that more accurately reflects the full range of student learning and school support.
Read the full statement at http://www.ascd.org/moratorium.
“Standardized test results have become the overriding measure of student achievement and school quality, and it’s time to rethink our accountability model,” said David Griffith, ASCD director of public policy. “This does not mean we should do away with testing, but we must recognize there is an imbalance. A two-year break from the high stakes attached to the tests will allow states to administer the assessments and share the results with districts, schools, and families, while providing schools with adequate time to thoughtfully consider and address student performance.”
The unintended and undesirable consequences of the current accountability model include overtesting, an overemphasis on test preparation, and a lack of focus and funding for untested subjects and concepts, such as the arts, civics, and social and emotional skills. A whole child education is not antithetical to testing, but student achievement and readiness for long-term success cannot be determined by standardized test scores alone.
The moratorium will help educators, policymakers, and communities:
Develop accountability systems that incorporate multiple measures and provide actionable information.
Reexamine whether annual state standardized testing is necessary.
Refine educator professional development and evaluation systems.
Build technological infrastructure and capacity.
Educators can share their perspective by participating in the ASCD Forum on next-generation accountability systems, which is designed to keep the educator voice at the center of this crucial discussion. The ASCD Forum — a series of online and face-to-face discussions between educators at all levels—will take place from February 2 through April 15 and determine how systems can more fully and accurately support long-term student success.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
““This does not mean we should do away with testing,” said David Griffith, ASCD director of public policy.”
It amazes me that this remains the default position that all Serious People hasten to assure us about. Failure after failure after failure of testing and yet we still can’t question testing itself, only that maybe, possibly, there’s just a bit too much of it. Somebody needs to smack us all collectively upside the head.
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“Somebody needs to smack us all collectively upside the head.”
May I???
The quote you highlight and this one “Standardized test results have become the overriding measure of student achievement and school quality,” are definitely what, as you say “Serious People” believe and who can’t countenance the fact that what they believe is riddled with error.
Smack time: STANDARDIZED TESTS MEASURE ABSOLUTELY NOTHING AS THEY ARE NOT MEASURING DEVICES. TO BELIEVE/PRETEND SO IS UTTER ABSURDITY. NO AMOUNT OF PSEUDO SCIENTIFIC BLATHERING BY PSYCHOMETRICIANS CAN CHANGE THE FACT THAT THE TEACHING AND LEARNING PROCESS IS IMMEASURABLE.
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The Common Core is really unpopular. It will become more unpopular if political hacks (like Governor Cuomo) use the test results to bludgeon public schools and advance their agenda, because that’s taking advantage of parents and students who were drafted into this experiment without any debate or real public discussion.
Tens of millions of public school students will be obediently working on these tests. Let’s see if the adults in government can manage NOT to punish them or their schools for that good-faith effort.
I doubt it. Governor Cuomo is already reneging on the promise he made. I assume the rest of the gang will follow his lead.
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This is about letting some of the steam out of the pressure cooker, thereby guaranteeing that the testing will continue.
If something is not done to stop teachers, parents, students and honest administrators from organizing to stop the privatization of public education, lots of business people, who are heavily invested in their plan to destroy public education and break teacher unions, will lose lots of money, which in turn will weaken their political power.
Agreeing to a reduction in the high stakes consequences, temporarily, is a political strategy.
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One would think adults would “rethink their accountability model” sometime prior to having tens of millions of children taking their new(est) standardized test.
They’re just now considering the practical consequences for public schools, 2 weeks before the testing begins?
Gosh, I hope the accountability caucus in the ed reform movement can be persuaded to issue an emergency reprieve! Stay tuned!
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NO REPRIEVE!
NO MORATORIUM!
NO DELAY!
The edu-fakers just want to buy time. Two more years of cashing in on useless CC test prep materials and CC aligned textbooks – and of course the technology upgrades required to run these sham exams. Give them no quarter. Let the Great PARCC/SBAC Testing Disaster of 2015 unfold – as scheduled. The sooner parents get to experience this institutionalized crime against children and taxpayers – the sooner they will revolt against it. No delay. No reprieve. No moratorium. No quarter.
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I agree. Buying time. I do empathize with those facing tests and consequences, so I’m torn on the issue, but delays do help those in favor of maintaining the testing regime.
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The adults are feeling bullied by parents:
“Anti-Testing Advocates Flood Congressional Staff Inboxes PK12: Did it work? Actually, it seemed to have made at least one aide pretty cranky. If you think a flood of 800-plus emails are enough to stop a government-supplied Blackberry in its tracks, you’re right. “This is bullying,” the aide said. “We’re trying to be really thoughtful on a range of issues, including assessments, in a really short time frame. We’re doing the absolute best we can. And this makes it even harder.”
I guess I’m unclear on “short time frame”. Congress let 7 years go by on this law, did they not?
They should look at the bright side. Unlike millions of America’s third graders, they won’t be preparing for and taking a two-part, eleven hour experimental Common Core exam over the next two months.
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I’d like to propose a two year moratorium on the use of asbestos in the schools, because we have no way of knowing that Bill Gates’ Labs (TM) will not be able to come up with perfectly safe breathable asbestos during that time.
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For ASCD this is a step forward
Sent from my iPhone
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That is an understatement. For several years now they have been supporting rephorm efforts through the topics they have addressed, the articles they have chosen, and the merchandize/advertisers who dominate their pages. I used to read the journal from front to back. I literally have to force myself to search for something that is not pushing the rephorm mantra. It is quite amusing to see them now start addressing the fallout from destructive educational policy with an issue titled “Building School Morale.”
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Reblogged this on biochemlife and commented:
Way to go ASCD.
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