Archives for category: Testing
« Older Entries
Newer Entries »

Parent: Why My Son Will Not Be Taking the PARCC Test

By dianeravitch
February 12, 2015 //
38

Parents and students are the most powerful participants in the education debates for a simple reason: No one can fire them. Furthermore, they are not simply kibitzers or think tank pundits: Their lives are involved in the decisions about education. Here is a thoughtful comment by a parent in New Jersey, where the rebellion against high-stakes testing is in full swing:

 

 

I think it is extremely important for all educators to take the high road on this and not let justified anger cloud the logical arguments. I would encourage the NJEA President, Wendell Steinhauer, to sharpen his criticism and clearly articulate parental as well as educator concerns. I would also encourage him to have his association develop their own professional development / educational programs for teachers, working with schools. We all have many things to learn – it is a continuous process. Partnership with the “other side” – for the worthy goal of providing a wonderful education for our children – that would be difficult for Governor Christie to make less of.

 

I informed my local board of education during public comment that my son (6) will not be sitting for the PARCC testing (if it is still around) when he reaches third grade. I am quite serious as I feel PARCC and everything behind it is not in the best interest of any student – any teacher – any grade. Testing 8 year olds for career readiness is in itself inappropriate. Basically Common Core attempts to centralize everything – and this robs the spirit from the classroom. I feel this process it is hurtful to students for several reasons not limited to these:

 

 

1. PARCC will be administered on computer rather than paper which places pressure on our youngest of students to learn keyboarding (my son is already learning in first grade) and be exposed to computers even before they have had the experience and develop the proper motor skill to form letters correctly. The computer forms letters perfectly at the push of a button. In the perfect world I would prefer students be on computer much later. Students would benefit by working with real materials rather than inundating elementary schools with I-pads, laptops, “smart-boards” and all the other hardware “sugaring” up classrooms our youngest occupy. Tight school budgets are spending yet more on hardware just to accommodate computerized PARCC. It would make much more sense to give just one test on paper. A school’s network infrastructure, computer operating systems, and labs are not designed as a professional testing center is – and should not be. Tests of this kind are documents that require paper and are more practical on paper. Give an appropriate and elegant test once per year on paper and get the results to their teachers in a week. Perhaps that might be helpful.

 

2. The type of questions I found on PARCC in taking a practice test caused me a huge headache as they were twisted and confusing. I would not subject a young mind to such an assessment. In addition, activities in the classroom should not be centered on what is on this test. This robs the classroom of spontaneity – teaching moments – and valuable digression into areas of interest. A one size fits all top down totalitarian style mandated test is counter to our land’s free and open spirit.

 

3. Data collection – I will not have 400 points of data collected on my son and held in a database of a private company (already under investigation) for unknown future use. Centralizing this is an invasion of my son’s privacy and disrespectful. I will not have a third party testing company hold his data. Every parent needs to be concerned about this – it is Un-American! More than enough data to inform instruction can be obtained in various ways within the school itself.

 

4. Two tests per year are given. Massive amounts of instructional time is lost. Two tests because they will be used to evaluate teacher performance. This is flawed logic. There are way too many variables in the lives of students that can have dramatic effects on how they do in school. In addition, over evaluate a staff and you will have no time to inspire – no energy to motivate. Yet more tests, in most cases, are also administered for the so called “Student Growth Objectives“ – one more bad idea gone wild. Administrators have more than enough information within the building to inform instruction. In addition, local school districts are surrendering to a micromanaging overreach by the federal and state governments – as are teachers. What will be next? Teacher lesson plans from headquarters? We are going down a dangerous and undemocratic road.

 

An educational leader, in my opinion, must be a catalyst – must be the cause of positive excitement about the world – like of the world, real curiosity, knowing of the world! The American poet and philosopher Eli Siegel stated “The purpose of education is to like the world through knowing it“ and I wholeheartedly agree. I hope Mr. Hespe and other leaders will respectfully find out more about his important philosophy and extremely effective teaching method.

 

I believe that we are presently in a situation where teachers and students are not lifted up – but instead, insulted through SGOs, endless data collection, performance rubrics, and more. A once more collegial relationship is being replaced by a corporate style data collecting and crunching top down management – (a la McDonald’s) filling out endless computerized evaluations of teachers digitally warehoused by a centralized and privatized third party company. If more weight were given to supporting and lifting our teachers – more resources given to motivating, exciting, and further educating them – it would, in my opinion, be very wise – as our students, our children, my child, would benefit. We are missing that boat all should be on – parents, teachers, administrators, elected, BOE members, and our children.

 

I intend to be a vocal critic / advocate for my son and all his classmates at PTA meetings, BOE meetings and even council meetings in my own town. I hope more and more parents will object to mandating of Common Core / PARCC / teacher over- evaluation, and hope that the state reconsiders how it sees its schools, its teachers, and all its young residents across a most uneven (and unfair) financial spectrum. What is desperately needed is people centered decisions and laws – not profit centered.

 

I believe Dr. Maria Montessori saw children as individuals and respected the differences – and different rates of development found in each young mind – this is needed – not a one size fits all (profit centered) approach. Most importantly, in order to have schools be more successful everywhere, the state must work hard to close the huge financial gap within and between communities and lift communities rather than attempting to privatize schools in the most needy areas. That is no solution and an ugly cop out by our government that increasingly seems to be on the side of the profiteers – not the people.
David Di Gregorio, Parent
Englewood Cliffs, NJ

Categories Common Core, New Jersey, Parents, Testing

FairTest: Another Week of Test Resistance and Protests

By dianeravitch
February 12, 2015 //
11

This is the weekly update from Bob Schaeffer of FairTest, covering testing news from around the nation. While parents and teachers loudly say “Enough is enough,” the key figures in Congress and the Obama administration collaborate to impose another seven years of high-stakes testing on the narion’s children. They seem determined to crush the spirits if children and educators. They don’t hear their constituents. Who are they listening to?

Schaeffer writes:

This week’s news stories and opinion columns — from more than half the 50 states — demonstrate the rapidly growing breadth and depth of the U.S. assessment reform movement. As the school testing season draws near, we expect parent and student opt-out campaigns, teacher boycotts, community teach-ins, demonstrations, school board resolutions, and legislative hearings will escalate pressure on policy-makers to roll back widespread misuse and overuse of standardized exams. As always, please feel free to call on FairTest for assistance.

Add Your Voice — Write Congress Now — Demand Less Testing, No High Stakes
http://fairtest.org/roll-back-standardized-testing-send-letter-congres

Don’t Leave the Questioning Child Behind By Renewing NCLB’s Annual Testing Mandate
http://www.citizen-times.com/story/opinion/contributors/2015/02/06/leave-questioning-child-behind-nclb/22974207/

Could Local Tests Be the Way Forward in NCLB Debate?
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2015/02/could_local_tests_be_the_way_f.html

Alaska School Counselors Decry Toll From Over-Testing
http://peninsulaclarion.com/news/2015-02-03-2

Arizona Legislature Advances Bill to Eliminate Grad. Test Requirement
http://azdailysun.com/news/local/state-and-regional/aims-test-bill-advances/article_cfc3877f-c711-51d1-8963-e61b55a7cdb4.html

California Seeks Exemption from “No Child” Test Score Requirements

State seeking No Child Left Behind exemption again

Colorado State School Board Votes to Support Testing Cutback
http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/vote-aims-8232to-reduce-8232student-8232testing/

PARRC Won’t Solve Colorado Schools’ Testing Problem
http://www.denverpost.com/voices/ci_27468887/colorado-voices-parcc-wont-solve-our-testing-problems

Connecticut Students Ask School Board to Help Fight Standardized Tests
http://www.theridgefieldpress.com/41149/students-ask-board-to-help-battle-tests/

Superintendents Tell Governor: Freeze Florida School Grades, Eliminate Some Tests
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/education/school-zone/os-superintendents-governor-school-grades-testing-post.html

Florida Teachers Plan to Protest Jeb Bush’s “Education Summit”
http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/gradebook/florida-teachers-plan-to-protest-jeb-bushs-education-summit/2216158

Federal, State “Ed Reform” Policies Make Georgia Schools Worse, Not Better
http://onlineathens.com/uga/2015-02-04/federal-state-education-reform-policies-are-making-schools-worse-not-better-says-uga

Georgia Educator’s Plea: Reduce Testing to Increase Teaching Time
http://getschooled.blog.ajc.com/2015/02/10/a-teachers-plea-to-georgia-lawmakers-lessen-testing-so-we-can-return-to-teaching/

Illinois Drops Federally Mandated Science Exams
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-no-science-test-met-20150205-story.html

Illinois Supers Urge PARCC Testing Delay: Technology Not Ready for Fair Administration
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2015/02/06/superintendents-urge-common-core-testing-delay-how-can-test-data-be-valid-under-testing-conditions-like-this/

Indiana Parents and Educators Express Concerns About Length and Pressure of State-Mandated Tests
http://www.wsbt.com/news/local/parents-and-school-officials-express-concerns-over-length-of-istep-test/31098428

PARCC Testing Upsets Louisiana Parents, Students and Teachers
http://710keel.com/242265/

Maine Will Examine Problems with New Online Testing System
http://www.sunjournal.com/news/lewiston-auburn/2015/02/04/commissioner-state-will-look-lewiston-online-testing-concerns/1651405

Western Massachusetts Ed Leaders Coalition Protests Exam Mandates
http://www.iberkshires.com/story/48448/North-Adams-School-Officials-Back-Coalition-Protesting-Mandates-Testing.html

Massachusetts Officials Demonstrate How Not to Respond to Opt Out Requests
http://edushyster.com/?p=6363

Newark Mayor Supports Opting Out From New Jersey State Tests
http://www.nj.com/essex/index.ssf/2015/02/baraka_parcc_test_is_unproven.html

Parents and Teachers Fuel Growing New Jersey Opt-Out Drive
http://www.northjersey.com/news/more-parents-fuel-opt-out-drive-for-nj-test-1.1267895

Legislature, School Districts Scramble to Put New Jersey Opt-Out Policies in Place
http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/15/02/08/legislators-school-districts-scramble-to-put-parcc-policies-in-place/

The Problems With New Mexico’s Tests From a Student Perspective
http://www.taosnews.com/opinion/article_d8b06c80-ad5a-11e4-9e0c-2b23ac7765fb.html

Opt-Out Advocates Get New York City Mayor’s Attention
http://ny.chalkbeat.org/2015/02/03/opt-out-advocates-get-attention-from-citys-most-powerful-couple/#.VNIjxOFLUZw

New York Governor Holds Education Funding Hostage in Demand for More Testing
https://www.longislandexchange.com/press-releases/aqe-on-education-budget-cuomo-is-holding-school-children-hostage-to-politically-motivated-agenda/

Op Ed: North Carolina Can Move Beyond Test-and-Punish Policies
http://www.newsobserver.com/2015/02/04/4530781_moving-beyond-test-and-punish.html?rh=1

North Carolina Educators Criticize School Grading Scheme
http://www.news-record.com/news/schools/official-wary-of-grading-schools/article_fc74d81c-ac16-11e4-a769-b384d49dbb99.html

Ohio Parents Planning to Opt Out of Common Core Testing
http://www.fox45now.com/shared/news/top-stories/stories/wrgt_vid_24611.shtml

Ohio Teacher Implores School Board to Curb Testing
http://chronicle.northcoastnow.com/2015/02/05/teacher-implores-elyria-board-curb-testing/

Responding to Pressure, Oklahoma Super Eliminates Writing Field Test

Superintendent nixes writing field tests ‘to relieve excessive testing’ for Oklahoma students

Education Panel’s Recommendations Could Shake Up Oregon Testing
http://www.opb.org/news/article/education-panels-proposal-could-shake-up-testing-in-oregon-schools/

Oregon Ed. Chief Endorses One-Year “Pass” on Test-Based School Ratings
http://www.oregonlive.com/education/index.ssf/2015/02/oregon_chief_education_officer_3.html

Research Indicates Pennsylvania School Accountability Measure is Inaccurate
http://news.psu.edu/story/343536/2015/02/04/research/research-suggests-school-accountability-measure-inaccurate

Teacher Quits to Protest Pennsylvania’s Excessive School Testing
http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/l-s-teacher-quits-over-standardized-testing-says-leaving-breaks/article_9e83c0f2-ae31-11e4-8543-0bc4ff61bc24.html

Tennessee Education Association Sues to Stop Test-Based “Value Added” Teacher Evaluations
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/my-kid-my-school/tea-sues-over-teacher-evaluations_05129342

Confusion Abounds Over Utah’s Test Opt-Out Rules
http://www.standard.net/Education/2015/02/07/State-law-about-opting-out-of-tests-clarified.html

Principal Urges Virginia Policymakers to Drop A – F School Grades
http://www.tricities.com/news/article_fac8de16-aceb-11e4-8c9c-c34037829869.html

Washington State Legislators Debate Graduation Exam Repeal Bills
http://www.thenewstribune.com/2015/02/03/3621756_no-tests-required-for-high-school.html?rh=1
Teachers Threaten to Boycott Washington State Common Core Tests
http://www.rentonreporter.com/news/290844991.html#

Technical Problems Force Wisconsin to Scale Back Computerized Tests
http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/education/local_schools/wisconsin-students-will-take-scaled-back-common-core-aligned-tests/article_c82a4638-7c30-5c5b-a88c-870f1bb7c496.html

Wyoming Senate Gives Initial Approval to Assessment Overhaul Legislation
http://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/wyoming-senate-approves-first-reading-of-school-testing-bill/article_7b690154-4316-57c2-87c8-9fb9cd1c39ee.html

Major National Ed. Group Calls for Two-Year Moratorium on Using Test Scores for Teacher, School Evaluation
http://www.districtadministration.com/article/ed-group-wants-halt-high-stakes-testing-evaluations

Ten Things You Need to Know About International Assessments
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2015/02/03/ten-things-you-need-to-know-about-international-assessments/

“Beyond Measure” — Support Production of a New Film About Educational Transformation by the “Race to Nowhere” Team

Bob Schaeffer, Public Education Director
FairTest: National Center for Fair & Open Testing
office- (239) 395-6773 fax- (239) 395-6779
mobile- (239) 699-0468
web- http://www.fairtest.org

This week’s news stories and opinion columns — from more than half the 50 states — demonstrate the rapidly growing breadth and depth of the U.S. assessment reform movement. As the school testing season draws near, we expect parent and student opt-out campaigns, teacher boycotts, community teach-ins, demonstrations, school board resolutions, and legislative hearings will escalate pressure on policy-makers to roll back widespread misuse and overuse of standardized exams. As always, please feel free to call on FairTest for assistance.

Add Your Voice — Write Congress Now — Demand Less Testing, No High Stakes
http://fairtest.org/roll-back-standardized-testing-send-letter-congres

Don’t Leave the Questioning Child Behind By Renewing NCLB’s Annual Testing Mandate
http://www.citizen-times.com/story/opinion/contributors/2015/02/06/leave-questioning-child-behind-nclb/22974207/
Could Local Tests Be the Way Forward in NCLB Debate?
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2015/02/could_local_tests_be_the_way_f.html

Alaska School Counselors Decry Toll From Over-Testing
http://peninsulaclarion.com/news/2015-02-03-2

Arizona Legislature Advances Bill to Eliminate Grad. Test Requirement
http://azdailysun.com/news/local/state-and-regional/aims-test-bill-advances/article_cfc3877f-c711-51d1-8963-e61b55a7cdb4.html

California Seeks Exemption from “No Child” Test Score Requirements

State seeking No Child Left Behind exemption again

Colorado State School Board Votes to Support Testing Cutback
http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/vote-aims-8232to-reduce-8232student-8232testing/
PARRC Won’t Solve Colorado Schools’ Testing Problem
http://www.denverpost.com/voices/ci_27468887/colorado-voices-parcc-wont-solve-our-testing-problems

Connecticut Students Ask School Board to Help Fight Standardized Tests
http://www.theridgefieldpress.com/41149/students-ask-board-to-help-battle-tests/

Superintendents Tell Governor: Freeze Florida School Grades, Eliminate Some Tests
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/features/education/school-zone/os-superintendents-governor-school-grades-testing-post.html
Florida Teachers Plan to Protest Jeb Bush’s “Education Summit”
http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/gradebook/florida-teachers-plan-to-protest-jeb-bushs-education-summit/2216158

Federal, State “Ed Reform” Policies Make Georgia Schools Worse, Not Better
http://onlineathens.com/uga/2015-02-04/federal-state-education-reform-policies-are-making-schools-worse-not-better-says-uga
Georgia Educator’s Plea: Reduce Testing to Increase Teaching Time
http://getschooled.blog.ajc.com/2015/02/10/a-teachers-plea-to-georgia-lawmakers-lessen-testing-so-we-can-return-to-teaching/

Illinois Drops Federally Mandated Science Exams
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-no-science-test-met-20150205-story.html
Illinois Supers Urge PARCC Testing Delay: Technology Not Ready for Fair Administration
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2015/02/06/superintendents-urge-common-core-testing-delay-how-can-test-data-be-valid-under-testing-conditions-like-this/

Indiana Parents and Educators Express Concerns About Length and Pressure of State-Mandated Tests
http://www.wsbt.com/news/local/parents-and-school-officials-express-concerns-over-length-of-istep-test/31098428

PARCC Testing Upsets Louisiana Parents, Students and Teachers
http://710keel.com/242265/

Maine Will Examine Problems with New Online Testing System
http://www.sunjournal.com/news/lewiston-auburn/2015/02/04/commissioner-state-will-look-lewiston-online-testing-concerns/1651405

Western Massachusetts Ed Leaders Coalition Protests Exam Mandates
http://www.iberkshires.com/story/48448/North-Adams-School-Officials-Back-Coalition-Protesting-Mandates-Testing.html
Massachusetts Officials Demonstrate How Not to Respond to Opt Out Requests
http://edushyster.com/?p=6363

Newark Mayor Supports Opting Out From New Jersey State Tests
http://www.nj.com/essex/index.ssf/2015/02/baraka_parcc_test_is_unproven.html
Parents and Teachers Fuel Growing New Jersey Opt-Out Drive
http://www.northjersey.com/news/more-parents-fuel-opt-out-drive-for-nj-test-1.1267895
Legislature, School Districts Scramble to Put New Jersey Opt-Out Policies in Place
http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/15/02/08/legislators-school-districts-scramble-to-put-parcc-policies-in-place/

The Problems With New Mexico’s Tests From a Student Perspective
http://www.taosnews.com/opinion/article_d8b06c80-ad5a-11e4-9e0c-2b23ac7765fb.html

Opt-Out Advocates Get New York City Mayor’s Attention
http://ny.chalkbeat.org/2015/02/03/opt-out-advocates-get-attention-from-citys-most-powerful-couple/#.VNIjxOFLUZw
New York Governor Holds Education Funding Hostage in Demand for More Testing
https://www.longislandexchange.com/press-releases/aqe-on-education-budget-cuomo-is-holding-school-children-hostage-to-politically-motivated-agenda/

Op Ed: North Carolina Can Move Beyond Test-and-Punish Policies
http://www.newsobserver.com/2015/02/04/4530781_moving-beyond-test-and-punish.html?rh=1
North Carolina Educators Criticize School Grading Scheme
http://www.news-record.com/news/schools/official-wary-of-grading-schools/article_fc74d81c-ac16-11e4-a769-b384d49dbb99.html

Ohio Parents Planning to Opt Out of Common Core Testing
http://www.fox45now.com/shared/news/top-stories/stories/wrgt_vid_24611.shtml
Ohio Teacher Implores School Board to Curb Testing
http://chronicle.northcoastnow.com/2015/02/05/teacher-implores-elyria-board-curb-testing/

Responding to Pressure, Oklahoma Super Eliminates Writing Field Test

Superintendent nixes writing field tests ‘to relieve excessive testing’ for Oklahoma students

Education Panel’s Recommendations Could Shake Up Oregon Testing
http://www.opb.org/news/article/education-panels-proposal-could-shake-up-testing-in-oregon-schools/
Oregon Ed. Chief Endorses One-Year “Pass” on Test-Based School Ratings
http://www.oregonlive.com/education/index.ssf/2015/02/oregon_chief_education_officer_3.html

Research Indicates Pennsylvania School Accountability Measure is Inaccurate
http://news.psu.edu/story/343536/2015/02/04/research/research-suggests-school-accountability-measure-inaccurate
Teacher Quits to Protest Pennsylvania’s Excessive School Testing
http://lancasteronline.com/news/local/l-s-teacher-quits-over-standardized-testing-says-leaving-breaks/article_9e83c0f2-ae31-11e4-8543-0bc4ff61bc24.html

Tennessee Education Association Sues to Stop Test-Based “Value Added” Teacher Evaluations
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/my-kid-my-school/tea-sues-over-teacher-evaluations_05129342

Confusion Abounds Over Utah’s Test Opt-Out Rules
http://www.standard.net/Education/2015/02/07/State-law-about-opting-out-of-tests-clarified.html

Principal Urges Virginia Policymakers to Drop A – F School Grades
http://www.tricities.com/news/article_fac8de16-aceb-11e4-8c9c-c34037829869.html

Washington State Legislators Debate Graduation Exam Repeal Bills
http://www.thenewstribune.com/2015/02/03/3621756_no-tests-required-for-high-school.html?rh=1
Teachers Threaten to Boycott Washington State Common Core Tests
http://www.rentonreporter.com/news/290844991.html#

Technical Problems Force Wisconsin to Scale Back Computerized Tests
http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/education/local_schools/wisconsin-students-will-take-scaled-back-common-core-aligned-tests/article_c82a4638-7c30-5c5b-a88c-870f1bb7c496.html

Wyoming Senate Gives Initial Approval to Assessment Overhaul Legislation
http://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/govt-and-politics/wyoming-senate-approves-first-reading-of-school-testing-bill/article_7b690154-4316-57c2-87c8-9fb9cd1c39ee.html

Major National Ed. Group Calls for Two-Year Moratorium on Using Test Scores for Teacher, School Evaluation
http://www.districtadministration.com/article/ed-group-wants-halt-high-stakes-testing-evaluations

Ten Things You Need to Know About International Assessments
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2015/02/03/ten-things-you-need-to-know-about-international-assessments/

“Beyond Measure” — Support Production of a New Film About Educational Transformation by the “Race to Nowhere” Team

Bob Schaeffer, Public Education Director
FairTest: National Center for Fair & Open Testing
office- (239) 395-6773 fax- (239) 395-6779
mobile- (239) 699-0468
web- http://www.fairtest.org

Categories Resistance, Testing

A Conservative Critique of NCLB Reauthorization

By dianeravitch
February 12, 2015 //
13

This is a statement by a group of conservative policy analysts, critiquing Republican efforts to rewrite No Child Left Behind. Their major complaint is that the current bills preserve federal control of education. They want states to make the decisions about when and how often students should be tested. They want the new law to say definitively that the federal government must not interfere with curriculum.

Being conservatives, they want Title I to be portable to promote school choice. They want to eliminate mandates and competitive grant programs.

Read it for yourself.

Arne Duncan seems to have united right and left in wanting to curtail the role of the federal government, though for different reasons. I want federal money to go to public schools. But I agree that the testing mandates and sanctions should be abandoned. When to test and how often to test should be a state function.

Categories NCLB (No Child Left Behind), Testing, U.S. Department of Education

Nick Tampio: Why We Are Opting Out

By dianeravitch
February 12, 2015 //
8

Nicholas Tampio, a professor at Fordham University, explains why his children will not take the state tests.

“Our family is refusing the Common Core state tests in the spring. We refuse the tests because they weaken local control of the schools, pressure teachers to use a flawed pedagogy and facilitate a collection of data that may harm teachers and students….

“To be clear, we see a valuable role for the federal government and disapprove of certain educational policies adopted by states in the past. But that is no reason to abandon America’s historical commitment to the principle of local control of schools. Educators and parents in our district have more knowledge of, and investment in, our students than do foundations or the federal government.

“Our Westchester school district has been thriving—with the vast majority of graduates going to four-year colleges, including some of the finest in the country. It makes no sense for our district’s students to be guinea pigs in a poorly conceived experiment….”

“To be clear, we see a valuable role for the federal government and disapprove of certain educational policies adopted by states in the past. But that is no reason to abandon America’s historical commitment to the principle of local control of schools. Educators and parents in our district have more knowledge of, and investment in, our students than do foundations or the federal government.
Our Westchester school district has been thriving—with the vast majority of graduates going to four-year colleges, including some of the finest in the country. It makes no sense for our district’s students to be guinea pigs in a poorly conceived experiment.”

Categories Common Core, Opt Out, Testing

Is Chris Christie For or Against Common Core–or Both?

By dianeravitch
February 12, 2015 //
16

In Iowa, Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey expressed “grave concerns” about the Common Core standards, especially that they are being tied to federal funds.

 

Christie told a group of Republicans in West Des Moines on Monday that Common Core ain’t what it used to be. He blamed federal strings and money attached to the program. It’s another checkmark on the scorecard of Christie’s conservative credentials.

 

But at home in New Jersey, implementation of the same standards is full speed ahead.

 

Christie created a commission to review the Common Core testing (PARCC), and parents and teachers have turned out in large numbers to express their opposition to PARCC in public hearings.

 

But Christie has done nothing to abandon the Common Core standards or the testing, despite the “grave concerns” expressed to voters in Iowa.

Categories Common Core, New Jersey, Testing

Why Most Students Will “Fail” PARCC Test

By dianeravitch
February 12, 2015 //
60

G. F. Brandenburg alerted me to this very troubling analysis by Russ Walsh of the reading levels in the PARCC test.

Brandenburg titled his post:

“Looks like the reading levels of the new PARCC were deliberately set so high that most students will give up.”

Russ Walsh scrutinized reading passages from the PARCC test for grades 3-8 to determine their readability and appropriateness for each grade level. He used five different measures if readability.

He writes:

“Since readability formulas are notably unreliable, I first decided to use several different readability measures to see if I could get a closer approximation of level. The measures I use are all commonly used in assessing readability. All of them use two variables, with slight variations, to determine readability: word length and sentence length. They vary slightly in the weights they give these variables and in how these variables are determined.

The readability formulas I used were the Fry Readability Graph (Fry), the Raygor Readability Graph (RR), the Flesch-Kincaid Readability Tests(FK), the Flesch Reading Ease test (FRE) and Lexile Framework for Reading.The Fry, Raygor and Flesch-Kincaid formulas yield a grade level readability estimate. The Flesch Reading Ease test provides an estimate of the “ease of reading” of a passage based on a child’s age. Lexile measures are the preferred readability measure of the whole corporate education reform movement behind the Common Core and PA,RCC so it must be included here as well. According to the Lexile Framework website “Lexile measures are the gold standard for college and career readiness.”

After reviewing the outcome of his analysis, Walsh concludes:

“Conclusions: The stated purpose of the Common Core State Standards and the aligned PARCC test was to “raise the bar” based on the notion that in order to be “college and career ready” students needed to be reading more complex text starting in their earliest school years. The PARCC sample tests show that they have certainly raised the bar when it comes to making reading comprehension passages quite difficult at every grade level.

“These results clearly show that even by the altered Lexile level standard the 4th grade passage is much too difficult for 4th grade children. I would hope that the actual PARCC would not include any material remotely like this over-reaching level of challenge for children. I would hope, but the inclusion of this passage in the sample does not give me confidence.

“The other results show that the passages chosen are about two grade levels above the readability of the grade and age of the children by measures other than the Lexile level. The results of testing children on these passages will be quite predictable. Students will score lower on the tests than on previous tests. We have already seen this in New York where test scores plummeted when the new tests were given last year. English Language Learners (ELL) and students with disabilities will be particularly hard hit because these tests will prove extraordinarily difficult to them.

“What happens when students are asked to read very difficult text? For those students who find the text challenging, but doable, they will redouble their efforts to figure it out. For the majority of children, however, who find the text at their frustration level, they may well give up. That is what frustration level in reading means. The ideal reading comprehension assessment passage will be easy for some, just right for most and challenging for some. The PARCC passages are likely to be very, very challenging for most.”

Brandenburg says of Walsh’s findings:

“Many analysts say that mass failure is precisely the goal of the people who designed the Common Core tests: if they define “mastery” as reading and doing math two grades above current grade level, then by definition all but a tiny fraction of students will fail, and these “experts” can proclaim that public education is a failure and must be abolished.

“It’s an evil plan worthy of an evil genius.”

Categories Common Core, Testing

San Diego School Board Votes 5-0 to End Annual Testing in NCLB

By dianeravitch
February 12, 2015 //
11

The school board of the San Diego Unified School District voted 5-0 to urge Congress to eliminate the federal mandate of annual testing, Read their full statement below.

 

Remember that one of the crucial elements in the grassroots movement to roll back the tide of high-stakes testing started in Texas, when school board after school board voted to oppose high-stakes testing, and eventually more than 80% of the state’s school boards voted against high-stakes testing. The legislature heard the voters, and pulled back from a proposal to require 15 tests for high school graduation.

 

This is how a movement grows. Congress is rewriting NCLB as you read this. It is said to be on a fast-track for reauthorization in both the Senate and the House. Almost all the D.C.-based interest groups have joined to demand that YOUR children and YOUR students be tested annually. The best way to stop this out-of-control train of failed policies is to organize, speak up, speak out, demonstrate. Urge your school board to adopt a resolution akin to the one passed unanimously in San Diego. Visit the offices of Senator Patty Murray, Senator Elizabeth Warren, Senator Al Franken, and all the Congressmen and Senators who are about to pass legislation keeping NCLB intact for another seven years. Make your voice heard.

 

The resolution adopted by the school board of the San Diego Unified School District on February 10:

 

SAN DIEGO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT

RESOLUTION IN THE MATTER OF SUPPORT

TO REMOVE THE ANNUAL TESTING REQUIREMENT FROM THE ELEMENTARY

AND SECONDARY EDUCATION ACT (ESEA)

AND MAKE OTHER MODIFICATIONS AS CONGRESS CONSIDERS REAUTHORIZATION OF ESEA (NO CHILD LEFT BEHIND) )
RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), currently known as the “No Child Left Behind Act of 2001,” was due for reauthorization in 2007, and the U.S. Congress has not reached a bipartisan agreement that will ensure passage to streamline existing federal requirements and allow states and local educational agencies to develop and implement policies that will best support students; and
WHEREAS, there are several significant aspects of ESEA that should be amended during the Act’s reauthorization, including the elimination of sanctions and unintended consequences; granting states and local educational agencies greater local flexibility; the elimination of federally mandated, annual standardized testing; and maintaining provisions of ESEA that support its original intent of supporting students with the greatest needs; and
WHEREAS, the nation’s future, social well-being and economic competitiveness relies on a high- quality public education system that prepares all students for college, careers, citizenship, and lifelong learning; and
WHEREAS, the over-reliance on high-stakes standardized testing in state and federal accountability systems is undermining educational quality and equity in U.S. public schools by hampering educators’ efforts to focus on the broad range of learning experiences that promote the innovation, creativity, problem solving, collaboration, communication, critical thinking and deep subject-matter knowledge that will allow students to contribute and thrive in a democracy and an increasingly global society and economy; and
WHEREAS, it is widely recognized that high-stakes standardized testing is an inadequate and often unreliable measure of both student learning and educator effectiveness, and the over-reliance on standardized testing has caused considerable collateral damage in many schools, including narrowing the curriculum, teaching to the test, reducing student’s love of learning, pushing students out of school, driving teachers out of the profession, and undermining school climate; and
WHEREAS, the San Diego Unified Vision 2020, long-term strategic plan, Quality Schools in Every Neighborhood, supports and provides for quality teaching, access to broad and challenging curriculum for all students, closing the achievement gap with high expectations for all, and is committed to using multiple formative measures of success that go beyond standardized achievement tests; and
WHEREAS, the ESEA Discussion Draft repeals the long-standing Title I Maintenance of Effort (MOE) and the Title IX General Provisions MOE requirement, and without them, state and local education funding could be lowered by states with no consequences to the state’s ongoing receipt of federal aid; and
WHEREAS, the ESEA Discussion Draft freezes funding for reauthorized programs for Fiscal Year 2016 through Fiscal Year 2021, eroding the investment of federal funding for public education that would result in reductions in services to student subgroups that require additional investments and support systems, including low-income, English learners, and students of color; and
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the San Diego Unified School District calls on the U.S. Congress and the Obama Administration to overhaul the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, currently known as the “No Child Left Behind Act,” eliminate the federally- mandated, annual testing requirement in each of Grades 3 through 9, and at least once in Grades 9 through 12; promote multiple forms of evidence of student learning and school quality in accountability; and not mandate any fixed role for the use of student test scores in evaluating educators; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the San Diego Unified School District calls on the U.S. Congress to reinstate the current Maintenance of Effort requirements in ESEA to protect the integrity and benefits of federal ESEA programs; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the San Diego Unified School District supports a ESEA reauthorization bill that provides states and local educational agencies with additional flexibility to design their own accountability systems, including how states identify schools that are under-performing and determine appropriate interventions or technical assistance to support student growth and achievement, and support the use of multiple measures and growth models of academic achievement that reflect a well-rounded education necessary for success in the 21st century; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the San Diego Unified School District supports a ESEA reauthorization bill that provides school districts the flexibility and resources needed to respond to the educational challenges in local communities, and provides greater local flexibility in the use of ESEA funding for Titles I, II and III as states and school districts are in the best position to make spending decisions to facilitate local innovation and student achievement, without placing undue burdens on districts that would adversely impact effective governance; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the San Diego Unified School District supports an ESEA reauthorization bill that eliminates the inflexible sanctions and prescriptive actions that currently result in more schools being identified as Program Improvement if one or more student subgroup misses Annual Yearly Progress, as without the sanctions, districts would have more flexibility to use Title I funds to develop and/or implement programs and services that have evidence of improving student outcomes and advancing academic progress of all student subgroups; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Board of Education of the San Diego Unified School District calls on the U.S. Congress to remove the funding freeze for reauthorized ESEA programs that would severely cut services over the next six years, and urges the passage of a modernized version of ESEA that is fully supported by federal investments in Title I, which has been woefully underfunded for decades.
Adopted and approved by the Board of Education of the San Diego Unified School District at the regular meeting held on the 10th day of February 2015.

Categories Education Industry, NCLB (No Child Left Behind), Resistance, Testing

New Jersey Parent: The Movement is Growing

By dianeravitch
February 11, 2015 //
16

New Jersey parent and blogger Sarah Blaine (parentingthecore) describes the test rebellion brewing in her state:

“I have been so proud of my state ever since the January 7, 2015 State Board of Education open public comment period. We filled 4 rooms of testimony (in two buildings) that day. Almost 100 people spoke out against the PARCC, and that was just the tip of the iceberg.

“Trenton set the spark, and the press jumped on the bandwagon. We’ve had stories (that I’ve seen) about the PARCC refusal movement in The Star Ledger, on CBS News, in The Asbury Park Press, in The Alternative Press, in countless local papers, and the best TV coverage I’ve personally seen is this NJ Public Television/PBS-13 piece from earlier this week (and not just because I am interviewed in it via a terrible Skype connection to my iPad) http://www.njtvonline.org/news/video/legislation-addresses-parcc-test-controvery/ .

“Our Opt Out of State Standardized Tests – New Jersey Facebook page has grown from about 2,700 prior to the January 7th meeting in Trenton to 7,443 as of this writing.

“At the Jersey City meeting of the Governor’s PARCC Study Commission on January 28th, I watched parents, teachers, and even a Superintendent stand up, one after another, to speak intelligently, thoughtfully, and passionately about the problems the PARCC tests are causing at our schools. That generated more press coverage.

“And then the following night in Jackson, NJ, even more parents and teachers spoke out against the tests. As I understand it, the testimony that night lasted for well over 5 hours (plus 4 hours in Jersey City the night before).

“Tomorrow, as noted above, the state assembly’s education committee is hearing public testimony regarding three bills: A-4165 (enshrining parents’ opt-out rights in law, which is up for discussion only, unfortunately), A-4190 (preventing any graduation, placement, or other academic decisions to be made for students based on PARCC results for the next three years), and A3079 (prohibiting all standardized testing in grades K-2).

“Take the PARCC events and screenings of Standardized have been popping up all over the state. We have more than 20 local “Cares About Schools” type groups scattered through our towns now. A grassroots group is even working on a GoFundMe campaign that has raised more than $4,000 of the $8,000 needed to fund three Choose to Refuse the PARCC billboards.

“It’s been amazing to be a part of this movement, and I am so proud of my fellow citizens for standing up for public education. I was particularly proud of my local Board of Education this week, which passed (by a vote of 6-0) a resolution requiring all of our schools to offer educationally appropriate alternatives to kids whose parents refuse to allow them to test.

“But we’ve still got a long way to go.

“We’ve got to get those NJ assembly bills passed into law. We need to make sure that as a country, we do what it takes to ensure that the ESEA re-authorization doesn’t codify problematic education policy into law for years to come. And we need to plan a better future for our kids — one that values real learning and education in all subject areas over standardized test scores.

“My local school district announced on Monday night that at its PARCC technology trials, 88% of students were able to complete the test. That’s 12% who weren’t able — due entirely to technology issues. The PARCC is a mess, but we parents need to get the word out and turn our small refusal movement into a massive groundswell. Testing starts in less than 3 weeks. The time is now. (Although I do expect our movement to grow exponentially between March and May once parents hear from their kids how awful the first round of tests really area.)

“As a parent, I think the technology idiocy compounds all of the issues, but personally, I’m in this because assigning high-stakes consequences (for schools, teachers, and/or kids) to these tests forces narrowing of the curriculum. I’m speaking out tomorrow about what I’ve seen disappear from my kids’ schools. I urge New Jersey and the rest of the country to do the same. We really can make a difference for our kids. I’m amazed at how much real statewide, grassroots organizing can accomplish. But this is still the tip of the iceberg. We’ve got about a million public school kids in NJ scheduled to take this test, and about 7,000 members of our Opt-Out group.

“We need to grow the numbers further, and show that parents are fed up with what’s happening to our kids’ education.

“We have the power — now we have to convince our neighbors and friends to stop assuming that we can’t change things, and to instead buckle down to make sure we can.”

Categories Common Core, New Jersey, Testing

EduShyster: How Mass. Parents Opted Out

By dianeravitch
February 11, 2015 //
14

EduShyster tells a gripping tale of parents’ struggle to opt out from state testing in Salem, Massachusetts. She got her hands on emails that were obtained by the parents through the Freedom of Information Act. Local officials tried their best to convince the parents that their children could not possibly skip the tests.

Read the twists and turns as officials scramble to get their answers right. The good news is that the parents won. Their children don’t have to take the state tests or the many practice tests.

Categories Massachusetts, Opt Out, Testing

Susan Ochshorn: How Race to the Top Harms Little Children

By dianeravitch
February 11, 2015 //
6

Susan Ochshorn, founder of ECE Policy Works, surveys the harmful impact of Race to the Top on early childhood education.

It was bad enough that No Child Left Behind turned into a Frankenstein:

“…narrowing curriculum, inspiring fear, trembling, and depression in the U.S. teaching corps, not to mention test anxiety among a growing — and ever younger — population of students.

“Today, kindergarteners, their fine-motor skills still wobbly, are darkening the circles of multiple-choice tests. Time for blocks and play is diminished. First and second graders are prepping for exams, exploration and skill-building sidetracked. Assessment in early childhood is hardly a recent concern, notes Kyle Snow, Director of the Center for Applied Research at the National Association for the Education of Young Children, in a paper on kindergarten readiness and other large-scale assessment systems. He cites Samuel Meisels, former head of the Erikson Institute, a Chicago-based graduate school of education, whose vociferous criticism of standardized testing goes back decades. He’s the father of work-sampling, the early childhood equivalent of portfolio assessment — collections of essays, lab reports, research projects, and other student work, with nary a bubble in sight. Snow also warned of the “great need for additional research and development of assessments appropriate for young children.”

But the train has already left the station — sans Thomas the Tank Engine. As states have applied for Early Learning Challenge grants, as part of the Race to the Top initiative, assessments of children’s kindergarten readiness are par for the course. Teachers are also administering standardized tests in the early elementary grades — the better, some argue, to meet the demands of increased accountability.”

Ochshorn describes the growing movement among parents to opt their children out of inappropriate testing. At one school, Castlebridge in Néw York City, most parents boycotted the bubble tests for the K-2 grades. The children love to learn through play. They love school.

Ochshorn writes:

“Isn’t that the point? And isn’t that worth preserving? It’s time to turn the tables, and assess the damage of Race to the Top. If we delay, we risk turning out the light for another generation of students.”

Categories Childhood, Pre-K, K, Race to the Top, Testing
« Older Entries
Newer Entries »