Tag: standardized testing

Iannuzzi Strongly Condemns “Sit and Stare” Policies

Via nysut.org…

New York State United Teachers President Richard C. Iannuzzi today called on school districts to abandon educationally unsound and unconscionable policies that force students whose parents have decided to opt them out of state testing to “sit and stare” instead of providing them with a constructive alternative.

…

“NYSUT strongly condemns the policy of ‘sit and stare’,” Iannuzzi said. “This policy aimed at students whose parents elect to ‘opt out’ their children from state standardized testing is unconscionable. It would be spiteful and counter-productive for any school district to require an administrator or teacher to direct a child to ‘sit and stare’ at a blank desk while other students are taking exams because of a choice made by a parent.”

Iannuzzi added, “This is cruel to those students not taking the exam and a distraction and disservice to those who are attempting to complete it. Punishing or embarrassing children because their parents exercised their right to choose not to have their children participate in tests they consider inappropriate is, frankly, abusive.”

…

Iannuzzi said the union would provide guidance and support to parents – or parent groups – unfairly singled out or harassed for advocating the right to opt out and added, “We will vigorously defend any NYSUT members who are subject to any negative employment considerations for choosing to opt out their own child or who advocate, to the extent permitted by law, for others who opt out of state standardized tests.”

This is very strong language from Iannuzzi in support of students, teachers, and parents.  It also continues his trend of taking more aggressive stands against damaging reforms from SED.  Ironically some locals are opposing his re-election bid, and supporting the slate that wants to play nice with Cuomo, because Iannuzzi wasn’t previously aggressive enough.

Today’s comments seem to be further proof that an Iannuzzi no longer beholden to Michael Mulgrew is an Iannuzzi who will take NYSUT in the direction that most NYSUT members want.

MORE THAN A SCORE: Talking Back to Testing Forum

This morning we ran a post featuring the MORE Caucus.  Having read that you may now have an interest in attending a forum they are holding in Manhattan this weekend titled, “More than a Score!”

You can click here to order your FREE tickets.

The details on the event are below…

Find out how you can stop the overuse of High Stakes Testing in your school, and join the citywide effort to focus on real teaching and learning.

Panel and workshops will discuss:

What are the effects of high stakes testing on students, teachers and school communities?

What are solid alternatives to standardized testing that already exist?

How can we be active in the fight for a better educational system for ALL students?

Hear and speak to educators and students from schools where standardized tests are not used to make major decisions. There’s overwhelming evidence to support that collaboration trumps competition when it comes to bringing out the best in all of our students.
Together we can stop the corporate standardization of education and create a responsive educational system that serves the needs of our young people and communities.

11:00-11:15- Welcome and Introductions!

11:15-11:45- Key Note Speakers

11:55-12:55- Workshops Round 1 (Diverse range of workshops for everyone)
* Portfolio Based Assessments (Middle/High School): Presented by educators from a Consortium High School (Non-regents based public high school)
* High Stakes Testing 101: The Truth About Testing- Presented by Change the Stakes
* Why the UFT should fight “Advance”: Presented by MORE’s Contract Committee
* High Stakes Testing and Zero Tolerance Policies- Promoting Restorative Justice
in our schools: Teacher’s Unite
* Building Student Voice and Empowerment: NYC Student Union: Building Student Unions on your own campus. Let’s build a network of collaboration for collective action to have our educational demands met.
* Portfolio Based Assessments in Elementary Schools- Presented by elementary school educators in the current progressive network

1:00-2:00- GET PLUGGED IN! Round 2 (Great place for people who are already plugged in to different community based groups and for those who are looking to learn more about how to get actively informed.)
* MORE- Movement of Rank and File Educators:
* Change the Stakes
* NYC Student Union
* Teachers

2:00-2:30- Endnote Speakers and Closing

2:30-3:00- Mingle and Meet- bake sale and connect at the water cooler

LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU THERE!
*Workshop organizers subject to change depending on demand.

Change the Stakes http://changethestakes.wordpress.com/
Movement of Rank and File Educators http://morecaucusnyc.org/
Teacher’s Unite http://www.teachersunite.net/

MORE than a Test Score!

Our friends from the MORE Caucus of the UFT will be hosting a forum on standardized testing on Saturday, February 1st in Manhattan.  Rob Pearl and I will be headed in to represent the PJSTA.  We’d be happy to have any other PJSTA members join us.

Here are the details via MORE’s Facebook page…

Find out how you can stop the overuse of High Stakes Testing in your school, and join the citywide effort to focus on real teaching and learning.

Panel and workshops will discuss:

What are the effects of high stakes testing on students, teachers and school communities?

What are solid alternatives to standardized testing that already exist?

How can we be active in the fight for a better educational system for ALL students?

Hear and speak to educators and students from schools where standardized tests are not used to make major decisions. There’s overwhelming evidence to support that collaboration trumps competition when it comes to bringing out the best in all of our students.
Together we can stop the corporate standardization of education and create a responsive educational system that serves the needs of our young people and communities.

11:00-11:15- Welcome and Introductions!

11:15-11:45- Key Note Speakers

11:55-12:55- Workshops Round 1 (Diverse range of workshops for everyone)
* Portfolio Based Assessments (Middle/High School): Presented by educators from a Consortium High School (Non-regents based public high school)
* High Stakes Testing 101: The Truth About Testing- Presented by Change the Stakes
* Why the UFT should fight “Advance”: Presented by MORE’s Contract Committee
* High Stakes Testing and Zero Tolerance Policies- Promoting Restorative Justice
in our schools: Teacher’s Unite
* Building Student Voice and Empowerment: NYC Student Union: Building Student Unions on your own campus. Let’s build a network of collaboration for collective action to have our educational demands met.
* Portfolio Based Assessments in Elementary Schools- Presented by elementary school educators in the current progressive network

1:00-2:00- GET PLUGGED IN! Round 2 (Great place for people who are already plugged in to different community based groups and for those who are looking to learn more about how to get actively informed.)
* MORE- Movement of Rank and File Educators:
* Change the Stakes
* NYC Student Union
* Teachers

2:00-2:30- Endnote Speakers and Closing

2:30-3:00- Mingle and Meet- bake sale and connect at the water cooler

LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU THERE!
*Workshop organizers subject to change depending on demand.

Change the Stakes http://changethestakes.wordpress.com/
Movement of Rank and File Educators http://morecaucusnyc.org/
Teacher’s Unite http://www.teachersunite.net/

Who is it Gonna Be?

Via Newsday…

Diane Ravitch, the outspoken education historian, policy analyst and author, called on educators across Long Island Tuesday to boycott Common Core-related curricula and refuse to administer state tests as an act of defiance against the state and federal governments.

“Your community is your boss, and you do what’s best for children,” said Ravitch, speaking at a Hauppauge meeting that drew about 175 school superintendents and administrators from Suffolk and Nassau counties.

“Do not take the Common Core tests. Stop the testing,” said Ravitch, of Southold, who wrote the critically acclaimed “Reign of Error,” which defends the American education system and criticizes privatization moves as a drain on public schools. “Neither teachers or students are prepared for these tests. Stand together and there will be no punishment.”

This idea has been bubbling for some time now.  Just waiting for the right person to put it out there.  There is no better person to suggest the idea than Diane Ravitch.  This is the year to do it.  It is the perfect storm.  Parents will be refusing in droves.  Teachers are finally feeling emboldened enough to speak out about the reforms that are killing their school.  It’ll be the spring of an election year.  Legislators wouldn’t dare impose consequences on a district (or districts) who boycott the tests as a way of protecting the children in their communities.  We’ve already seen the governor in an all out sprint, attempting to distance himself from the reform agenda.  All it will take is for one school district to take the courageous step.  To say, “No.  Not to our children.  You will not continue to abuse our children.  No state testing in our schools this year.”  Middle Country School District Superintendent Roberta Gerold was quoted in the Newsday article saying, “I would really have to think about it.  I would love us to have the courage.”

Once a district takes that step others will follow.  At that point the entire reform agenda crumbles.  So now the question is, who?  Who is going to be the courageous first district to take that step?  Whoever it is will have the strength of all of our state’s teachers and an enormous number of parents behind it.

On BEDS Day, Put the Testing to Bed!

BEDS Day is October 2nd this year… let’s put high stakes testing to bed!

via Students, Not Scores!…

Here’s the plan:

Email YOUR State Senator and Assembly Member.
·        Not sure who that is? Click the links below.

Steps:
1. Write a brief message telling them that they represent YOU and you want the high stakes testing to STOP NOW! It’s abusive and it’s hurting children.
STOP IT – FIX IT – or SCRAP IT!!!

2. Send your email on OCTOBER 2nd to your Representative.

3. Share with everyone you know, and encourage them to do the same.
IN ORDER TO GET ANYBODY’S ATTENTION, THIS HAS TO HAPPEN ALL OVER THE STATE on October 2nd!!!!

Send the Scores Back!

Our friends at NYSAPE are running a “Send the Scores Back!” campaign.  If you are a parent of a child who took the state tests this should be of interest to you.

Via NYSAPE’s Facebook page…

New York State believes in REAL students, not FAKE test scores. This year’s test scores are invalid and provide NO useful information about student learning. Parents across New York State will come together to mail these BOGUS test scores back to Commissioner King on Saturday, September 28th, 2013.

These test scores are invalid because….

1.Flawed test construction:

-Tests were too long; even high achieving students did not finish

-Vague questions and reading passages full of commercial logos and distracting product placements

-Passages from test maker Pearson’s text books used, thus giving some students an advantage

2.Formula used to determine “cut scores” is flawed and not supported by scientific research: (“cut scores” are the cut-off scores for determining proficiency)

-Cut scores for the assessments were not developed until AFTER the tests were administered and scored. THIS SUGGESTS THAT THE DATA IS HIGHLY VULNERABLE TO MANIPULATION.

-NYSED identified the top 8-20th % scores on the NAEP, SAT and PSAT and used these scores to work backwards and determine the scores a child must receive on state assessments in grades 3-8 to eventually meet these benchmarks. In other words, in order to be proficient on a NYS test, ALL students must achieve scores comparable to the top 8-20% of students in the country. This is too high and sets children up for failure.

-Research that shows that high scores on these tests are not effective indicators of performance in college. High school grades are in fact a better indicator of college performance.

-Tests like the NAEP and the SAT are not curriculum measures and therefore, are not appropriate for determining cut scores on the NYS ELA and Math tests.

3.No oversight or transparency in scoring or test construction:

-The tests were not and will not be made available in their entirety for public inspection, and were destroyed after being scored and sent back to the state.

-Teachers involved in scoring the tests and those hired to make recommendations to the Commissioner of Education regarding the formulation of cut scores were made to sign non-disclosure agreements.

4.Not designed to improve student learning

-Due to test secrecy and the fact that scores are received after the school year has ended, there is no opportunity for teachers to review the tests and provide students with extra support in areas of weakness.

5.Test scores vary too much to be considered valid:

-Over the past seven years, proficiency scores on the NY math and ELA have been characterized more than once by fluctuations of almost 30 points. When scores vary this widely, the reliability of the data is questionable.

Be sure to “Like” NYSAPE on facebook and share the news of this campaign with your friends.

Links for the Last Week of Summer

I have had a few links to some great reads to share the past few days, but have been busy with some of our other posts, so I’ll give you a few at once here.  As you are laying on the beach enjoying your last week of summer here are a few “must reads” for you…

From the Washington Post, read about what happened when an adult took the Florida state tests.

The Atlantic Journal Constitution tells you who is making money off of the Common Core (WARNING, paywall).  Reality-Based Educator’s take on the article, “Common Core Developers- A Private Club You Are Not In” can be found here.

Seven things to do now that state test scores are in, from NYC Public School Parents.

From Valerie Strauss in the Washington Post, “Teacher: it’s not enough to just ‘teach’ anymore“.

I am convinced that we, as teachers, must be activists. While we all forge personal identities inside the classroom, the diversity of which our kids love and enjoy, we must conceive of ourselves as education activists too. We have, at the same time, front row seats to and lead roles in education today. We are school reform. If we make ourselves aware of policy, trends, and plans that occur outside of the classroom, then we can preserve our autonomy and ability to lead inside the classroom.

How depersonalization is at the heart of education reform.