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OPINIONS:

THE MANY MYTHS OF THE VALUE OF STATE TESTING

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 By Noah Blumenthal
 
As our district prepares to discuss school testing, I’d like to share a  few questions. Let me preface this by saying I am a proponent of district wide opt out. Only by not allowing any student to take the test can we stop teachers  and administrators from worrying that their evaluations will hinge on test  performance. With that in mind, here are my questions (and my answers):  READ MORE
 


Northwordnews Editorial

TESTING RESOLUTION A GOOD FIRST STEP BUT CHANGE MUST BEGIN HERE AT HOME

The North Shore School Board  was right to take up a resolution at its July 1st meeting calling on State officials to reform New York’s “top-down,” “one-size fits all” high stakes standardized testing approach to education.  . . .      Unfortunately Albany moves slowly, and these actions will not provide immediate relief from the high stakes testing culture that has developed in this district and others.  Yes –the tests and APPR are bad.  Neither accurately or fairly evaluates students or teachers – especially when students are being prepped for the test.  What is more harmful than the testing itself, however, is how districts have responded to it. . . .  READ MORE    

Some History

Expansion of Federal Power over Public Education and the Loss of Local Control (Click on picture to enlarge)

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The Vocabulary:
(click for definitions)
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The Math:
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The Science:
Do High Stakes Tests Improve Academic Achievement? Educational Leadership, February, 2003.

Impact of High Stakes Testing on Students with Learning Disabilities.  greatschools.org

Risks of High Stakes Testing - Education World
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CORPORATE ED REFORM - THE ONE SIZE FITS ALL APPROACH TO EDUCATION

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What is Corporate Education Reform?  Washington Post
Challenging Corporate Ed Reform, Rethinkingschools.org
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RESISTING CORPORATE ED REFORM 

A Syosset High School Student Opts Out to Protest APPR

Fairtest.org

National Resolution on High Stakes Testing

United Opt Out National - Long Island

Open Letter to Commissioner John King

Performance Assessment.org and Timeoutfromtesting

Diane Ravitch.com
Diane Ravitch's Blog

Race To Nowhere

Principals for Change

Letter from NYC Principals to Commissioner John King (as published in the Washington Post)

New York State Principals Protest APPR

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NORTH SHORE SCHOOL BOARD TO TAKE UP DISTRICT'S STATE TESTING PHILOSOPHY AT  THURSDAY MEETING 

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Updated September 22 (earlier  version posted on July 2) -- On Thursday, September 26, the North Shore Board of Education will meet in the Middle School Cafeteria at 7:30 pm to discuss the District's philosophy in relation  to New York State standardized  assessments.  This is the third time in six years that the Board has sought to officially articulate its position on the issue.  In 2007, the Board adopted a white paper which minimized the importance of the tests and emphasized  a more authentic educational experience - the traditional philosophy of the District.  In 2010, after a recalibration of state cut-off scores and an outcry over North Shore students' perceived decline in performance, the pendulum swung towards an official policy which placed greater emphasis on test preparation.  READ MORE


Northword Articles

SCORES ON GRADES 3-8 STATE TESTS FALL SIGNIFICANTLY ACROSS NEW YORK; NORTH SHORE DECLINES MORE MODEST

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August 7 - - Wednesday morning, New York State Department of Education officials  released school test results for the grades 3-8 English Language Arts  (ELA) and Math assessments.  The numbers state-wide showed a  significant drop in the percentage of students achieving  proficiency.   Declines for the North Shore School District were significantly more modest than what took place across New York.  READ MORE

STATE TESTING DOMINATES TALK AT LIBRARY MEETING  WITH  EDWARD RA

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Last evening, the Gold Coast Library in Glen Head hosted a meet and  greet event with Assemblyman Edward Ra (R-Franklin Square). . .      The issue of New York State testing dominated the event, as several audience members asked questions related to the issue.  Read More

BOARD OF EDUCATION  CONSIDERS ANTI-TESTING RESOLUTION

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NEW LEGISLATION 
Introduced In State Legislature

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Assembly Bill 7994 Introduced by Al Graf (R-Holbrook) Bill would withdraw NYS from Race to the Top and Common Core (click)
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Senate Bill 03719 Introduced by Sen. Carl Marcellino (R-Oyster Bay)
Bill would create exemptions from testing for high performing districts (click)

U.S. House of Representatives

Student Success Act (H.R. 5)

Introduced by Rep. Robert Kline (R-Minnesota), the Bill would eliminate certain mandates imposed by the No Child Left Behind Act and the Department of Education under Race to the Top, in an effort to allow for more local control over education decisions, including curriculum, spending and teacher evaluations.  Critics of the measure argue that the bill would greatly hurt low income students, as states would be given more flexibility in how they spend Title I funds, and that the legislation does not do enought to hold states and local districts accountable.  The bill passed the House on a near party line vote on July 19th.  See links below for opposing positions on the legislation.

SUPPORT - House Education and Workforce Committee Literature on the Bill.
OPPOSITION - Center for American Progress
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Related Articles on the Web

NEW PARCC TESTS EXPECTED TO COST DISTRICTS $29.50 PER STUDENT

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Median cost/pupil is $29.95 and ranges from $10.95 in Georgia to more than $60 per/student in Maryland

HOW NOT TO EVALUATE TEACHERS
(Huffington Post)

Is the End Near for No Child Left Behind?

NYTimes Editorial - "Testing Will Never Bring Us Up to Par With Other Nations"

Assemblymen 
Initiate Effort to Withdraw from Race to the Top, Common Core

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Great Neck BOE Adopts Anti- Testing Resolution

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Fed Ed Head Says States can Delay Implementation of Teacher Removal Procedures

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Building Planes in Flight - The Common Core

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History Repeats Itself

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Reaction to the New Tests - NY Times

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