Kevin Kumashiro writes:
Dear Friends–I hope you’re well. I wanted to be sure that you’re aware of three initiatives in which hundreds of educational scholars and leaders are pushing back on high-stakes standardized testing of students and teachers:
1) Last week, the California Alliance of Researchers for Equity in Education (CARE-ED) sent a letter, endorsed by over 200 educational scholars in CA, and provided oral testimony to the CA Commission on Teacher Credentialing (at its 2/11 meeting) calling for an end — not merely a continuance of last year’s temporary suspension — of high-stakes standardized testing in teacher education. Attached and available here: https://www.care-ed.org/
2) This week, the national network, Education Deans for Justice and Equity (EDJE) sent a letter (dated 2/15), endorsed by over 200 deans and leaders across the country, to Secretary-Designate Miguel Cardona to urge waiving federal mandates for 2021 student testing. Attached and available here: https://bit.ly/37oxIsC
3) Next week, CARE-ED will present a letter, endorsed by over 400 educators across CA, to the CA State Board of Education (which meets on 2/24) to urge requesting a waiver of federal mandates for 2021 student testing as well as waiving additional state mandates and any consequences attached to such testing. Attached and available here: https://www.care-ed.org/
Onward!
Kevin
***Kevin Kumashiro, Ph.D.https://www.kevinkumashiro.com
Movement building for equity and justice in education
Diane Ravitch's blog 
Thank you all! Thank you.
High stakes standardized testing does not promote equity or justice. It is used as a vehicle to close public schools in mostly poor minority areas. When minority students are shuffled into separate and unequal privatized schools, students of color are treated differently from most white students that remain in public schools with certified teachers. The resulting is unequal treatment for poor minority students. How can any system that treats young people of color unfairly be considered just? it defies logic, and it should be a violation of civil rights.
[…] So let’s review, principals and teachers are now being charged with maintaining 2 school systems, facilitating a testing program, and developing budget needs for next year. When we expect this much multi-tasking, it shouldn’t surprise us that not all areas receive the same level of attention. It’s also clear that 3 other areas of focus could benefit from the elimination of one area of focus – testing administration. […]
AMEN!
It is February & testing usually occurs in March. Is THAT why there’s a big push to get the kids back in school so they can have in person test prep & testing as soon as they come back? Hmmm…