FairTest: The Astonishing Revolution Against High-Stakes Testing, from Coast to Coast

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1. Allen says:

   April 9, 2015 at 10:33 pm

   Here was the letter from our not-so-super superintendent. They are worried as more kids are opting out. Our kids will opt out.

   As an aside does anyone else cringe when a letter opens with, “Dear Stakeholder.” A dead giveaway that were talking business- literally.

   Here it is:

   “Dear _____ Stakeholder,

   I am a supporter of the levels of thinking embedded in the Common Core. Everyday in Ithaca City School District (ICSD) classrooms, I see more-and-more outstanding examples of thoughtful, creative, and interdisciplinary approaches to teaching and learning. Specifically, our classrooms provide models for arts and humanities instruction, a greater focus on nonfiction reading/writing (informational texts, opinion writing), and a deeper understanding/application of math concepts. It has been exciting to see and share highlights of the amazing things happening in our learning spaces.

   While sharing highlights from our classrooms, at the same time, I have also often shared frustrations with how the positive shifts resulting from different standards (i.e. Common Core) have been overshadowed by our state’s approaches to accountability (i.e. 3-8 testing, teacher evaluation). From my perspective, assessments are useful when having an impact on the learning/learner and when informing needed instructional shifts. I do not agree with the emphasis being placed on state testing by the Governor and NYS Legislature when making judgments about student and teacher performance.

   Currently, there is increased debate and discourse associated with the upcoming administration of ELA and Math assessments in grades 3-8. Here are a few facts:

   Yes, educators in New York State are required to administer the upcoming 3-8 assessments

   Yes, lower participation rates on tests might affect the 95% test participation requirement to make Adequate Yearly Progress set by No Child Left Behind (NCLB) thus resulting in sanctions including, but not limited to, the need for improvement plans, the loss of Title I money and funding available under programs such as the Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

   No, in the ICSD, we do not spend extensive time providing test preparation or teaching material that can be recalled through facts, or basic concepts. Instead we have been striving for a much richer experience for young people to prepare them for college and careers.

   Yes, in the ICSD, we do wish for students to take state assessments as we use the test results along with many district and classroom based assessments to gauge student learning.

   In the ICSD, parents/caregivers wishing to refuse the administration of the NYS assessment to their child are required to provide a letter
 stating your intent to refuse and the principal will follow-up. 



   I often reflect on how many ICSD young people are watching me and other adults as we navigate daily challenges. As someone who is asking a community of thinkers to Lead with Love, I must be cognizant of how we grapple with the most recent issues associated with state budgets, teacher evaluations, and student testing. I do not have the cure-all solution to the unprecedented problems facing public education. However, I look forward to leading efforts to improve and/or provide alternatives to meet student needs.

   I am honored to be on this journey with you.”

   Sincerely,

   _______________

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   • Dienne says:

     April 10, 2015 at 6:56 am

     If I may ask, is any of this true from what you’re seeing: “I see more-and-more outstanding examples of thoughtful, creative, and interdisciplinary approaches to teaching and learning. Specifically, our classrooms provide models for arts and humanities instruction….”? The Common Core supporters keep making this claim that the Core allows for more creativity, interdisciplinary work, etc., but seems like most people actually having to deal with the Core are finding less creativity, less focus on the arts and more narrowing of the curriculum. Just curious about your perspective.

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     • Allen says:

       April 10, 2015 at 10:06 am

       Dienne,

       No, that line that you referred to is complete BS, not as I assess it or as the superintendent might wish it to be but as confirmed universally by the teachers and students. If it were the case he would not have even needed to write that PR piece nor we have to constantly be using carrots and sticks to “convince” the teachers and students of the merits of CC and the tests.

       This fellow in particular is smoother than some of those who are peddling the “reforms” and is well-versed on the lingua franca all of these superintendents learn in their various seminars. In the end he is no more than a corporate careerist and not an educator by any measure. He was sent to our school district to “make the sale” of CC. Increasingly everyone in the district is seeing through it all and growing tired of the PR he is peddling.

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2. jb2 says:

   April 9, 2015 at 11:31 pm

   “Words are like leaves; and where they most abound,/Much fruit of sense beneath is rarely found”
   Alexander Pope

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3. Arina Bokas says:

   April 10, 2015 at 12:54 am

   This might be a good addition from Michigan:

   http://www.theoaklandpress.com/general-news/20150409/parent-leaders-ask-state-to-put-m-step-assessments-on-hold-for-this-year

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   • Bob Schaeffer, FairTest says:

     April 10, 2015 at 11:28 am

     Great suggestion — we will include this clip in next week’s “Testing Resistance & Reform News.” You can sign up for free delivery at http://fairtest.org/weekly-news-signup or review the archives at http://fairtest.org/news/other

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4. drext727 says:

   April 10, 2015 at 7:32 am

   Reblogged this on David R. Taylor-Thoughts on Texas Education.

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5. maureenkeeney2013 says:

   April 10, 2015 at 8:31 am

   This is all good news The tide is turning.. We must empower our parents and support them in their decision to Opt Out. Fingers crossed and writing emails. 🙂

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6. Akademos says:

   April 10, 2015 at 12:25 pm

   The Brookings Institute put out this inane piece on how opting out will have little effect on stats for evals, yet fails to mention how totally invalid VAM is already, of course. The more the deformers try to discredit, the more they discredit themselves and give away their hand.

   http://www.brookings.edu/research/papers/2015/04/09-chalkboard-opt-out-chingos

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7. retired teacher says:

   April 10, 2015 at 1:01 pm

   Florida has just proposed a bill to limit testing to 45 hours a year. That is pathetic, especially for elementary school students. If you figure that young children can usually bear about two hours at most, teachers are losing over twenty mornings of prime instruction time. This is still too much.

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8. Old Teacher says:

   April 10, 2015 at 2:25 pm

   I agree, retired teacher, and don’t forget, they are mentally fatigued afterwards, the afternoon better involve hands on learning projects, and such because they have had enough sitting.

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9. Debbie Emery says:

   April 11, 2015 at 11:51 am

   Interesting collection of opt out families. All over.

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10. Gayle says:

    April 11, 2015 at 3:21 pm

    Quite impressive

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11. criticalconsciousness says:

    April 11, 2015 at 9:22 pm

    Reblogged this on Critical Consciousness – Spirit of Paulo Friere.

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