Tag: standardized tests

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PARCC Refuseniks :Issue of refusal to take tests draws a crowd

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PARCC Refuseniks :Issue of refusal to take tests draws a crowd

FEBRUARY 13, 2015    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015, 1:21 AM
BY HANNAN ADELY
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

The state Assembly Education Committee drew a crowd to Trenton on Thursday with a bill that would give parents the right to refuse new state tests for their children.

The tests are about two weeks away, and the bill was up for discussion only and not for a vote, but it landed at a time of heightened anxiety and debate about the exams called PARCC.

The controversial tests, which will be given in math and language arts in Grades 3-11, won’t count for graduation, grade promotion or class placement, but a growing number of parents say they are refusing to allow their kids to take the tests.

Parents and teachers argued at the hearing that the tests are too hard and draw resources from the classroom and that they shouldn’t be used to measure teacher performance. But supporters said the tests better prepare students for college and build critical thinking skills.

“Parents should not have to worry that their children will face negative consequences … if they refuse the test,” said Marie Blistan, vice president of the New Jersey Education Association, the state’s largest teachers union. “The NJEA believes that parents have the right to act in the best interests of their children.”

https://www.northjersey.com/news/nj-state-news/issue-of-refusal-to-take-tests-draws-a-crowd-1.1270874

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PARCC Proficiency Test Is Good For Students, N.J. Education Chief Says

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PARCC Proficiency Test Is Good For Students, N.J. Education Chief Says

NEW BRUNSWICK, N.J. (CBSNewYork) — Some New Jersey parents have come out so strongly against a new computer-based math and language arts test that they have refused to allow their children to take the exam – but state education officials have rushed to its defense.

As CBS2’s Christine Sloan reported Tuesday, the state’s largest teachers’ union is also against the exam — called the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers – PARCC for short.

But New Jersey state Education Commissioner David Hespe said the students will benefit from being challenged by the exams. (CBS News)

https://newyork.cbslocal.com/2015/02/10/cbs2-exclusive-n-j-education-chief-says-controversial-exam-is-good-for-students/

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More parents fuel opt-out drive for state test

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More parents fuel opt-out drive for state test

FEBRUARY 9, 2015, 9:59 PM    LAST UPDATED: MONDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 2015, 10:02 PM
BY HANNAN ADELY
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

A movement to get parents to keep their children from taking new state exams next month — fueled by protests on social media and encouragement from the teachers union — is gaining steam.

New Jersey requires all students to take the tests, but they do not need to sit for the exams to go on to the next grade or graduate.

State Education Commissioner David Hespe has urged school leaders to respond to the growing opt-out movement by explaining to parents the merits of the tests. In meetings, letters and online communications, school leaders say the tests will provide detailed information about what each student knows, better prepare teens for college entrance exams and build critical thinking skills.

But they are also trying to address parents’ complaints that the tests cut into instruction time, hamper creativity and fail to adequately measure learning. Some parents have delivered heartfelt pleas to school officials about the stress their children feel.

“We try to provide a balanced approach and let parents know there are benefits to taking the test. All they hear about is negative,” said Mark Toback, superintendent of Wayne schools.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/more-parents-fuel-opt-out-drive-for-state-test-1.1267895

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The Ridgewood Education Association invites parents and community members to a free screening of “Standardized”

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The Ridgewood Education Association invites parents and community members to a free screening of “Standardized”
February 07,2015
the staff of the Ridgewood blog

Ridgewood NJ,The Ridgewood Education Association invites parents and community members to a free screening of “Standardized” at 7 p.m. on Feb 11 at the Bow Tie Cinemas in downtown Ridgewood. “Standardized” is a documentary film that examines the impact of the high-stakes standardized testing movement in public education today.

Michael Yannone President Ridgewood Education Association states in a letter to the Ridgewood News

“Here in Ridgewood, we are beginning to see how tests mandated upon the district by bureaucrats from afar is impacting the education of our students. Next month, all Ridgewood students in grades 3 to 11 will begin taking the newly created PARCC exam. This new test has affected many aspects of our district from technology, professional development, staffing, daily lessons and assignments, and even our calendar. As we get closer to this test, I encourage parents to educate themselves. You can take sample tests for yourself at parcconline.org and more information is available on the district website, websites like njkidsandfamilies.org, and via films like “Standardized.”

Due to theater capacity, seating is limited, but if you would like to attend you can reserve your seat online at ridgewoodstandardized.eventbrite.com.

2/11/15: Ridgewood Education Association

https://www.facebook.com/SaveOurSchoolsNJ/photos/a.220620957971072.67829.174128812620287/904652796234548/?type=1

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N.J. parents critical of standardized tests, poll by teachers union indicates

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N.J. parents critical of standardized tests, poll by teachers union indicates

JANUARY 27, 2015, 4:54 PM    LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, JANUARY 27, 2015, 4:57 PM
BY HANNAN ADELY
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

Many New Jersey voters believe that standardized tests are too stressful, take too much time from the classroom and should be reduced, according to the results of a poll released Monday by the state’s largest teachers union.

The New Jersey Education Association, which has been critical of standards-based tests and their use in teacher evaluations, asked 800 registered voters, including 200 parents, for their opinions on testing. Also, 400 parents — including the 200 from the voters group — were polled and their results provided as a group.

In all, 71 percent of parents and 64 percent of voters said the standards-based tests should be reduced. But more than half of parents and 69 percent of voters said they had heard little or nothing about new state tests known as PARCC tests that have been controversial among educators and parent activists.

Also, 81 percent of parents and 78 percent of voters believe teachers are forced to “teach to the test.” The same percentage of parents and voters said they also believe tests aren’t a good measure of the individual student and are given too much weight when used to make decisions on teachers, schools and students.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/n-j-parents-critical-of-standardized-tests-poll-by-teachers-union-indicates-1.1259374

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N.J. commission urges school districts to reduce testing

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N.J. commission urges school districts to reduce testing

JANUARY 23, 2015, 5:22 PM    LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, JANUARY 23, 2015, 5:35 PM
BY HANNAN ADELY
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

Gov. Christie’s commission on student testing on Friday called for school districts to review and to consider cutting back their own exams amid rising concerns about too much testing in schools.

But it appears unlikely that New Jersey will drop out or delay new standards-based state tests as other states have done amid public furor over a testing culture that critics say takes away from classroom learning. The commission, in its initial report released Friday, instead urges a larger look at the whole body of tests and quizzes that students get on a daily basis.

“We want every district, school and classroom to engage in this review to make sure all assessments are high quality and efficient and not redundant,” said David Hespe, the commission of education.

Hespe, who is leading the nine-member commission on student assessments, said there is far more local testing than state testing and that districts, schools and parents need to review and establish testing policies to suit their communities. That includes evaluating how they use tests in schools, the purpose of each test, and whether any are redundant.

“If that means a school might have to roll back assessments, by all means we would support that,” Hespe said.

https://www.northjersey.com/news/n-j-commission-urges-school-districts-to-reduce-testing-1.1239411

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EQ and IQ critical for children to thrive

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EQ and IQ critical for children to thrive
Lynn Benson, LSW
To the Editor:

The article “Finding a way through the pressure,” which appeared on page A1 in The Ridgewood News on Friday, June 27, states:

“Administrators emphasize that in today’s highly competitive world, teaching Ridgewood’s young people about ‘balance’ is all the more important.”

I believe that in addition to “balance,” enhanced EQ (emotional intelligence) is a necessity to deal with life’s pressures.

Too many children are challenged socially and emotionally, and are engaging in reckless and self-destructive behaviors while trying to cope with their struggles. And, it’s heartbreaking how often our headlines are filled with tragedies involving our youth. As a society, we are failing.

Our school systems are designed for IQ. EQ needs equal attention. Our nation’s schools mandate academic, physical and health education. Social Emotional Learning (SEL) is equally important.

– See more at: https://www.northjersey.com/opinion/opinion-letters-to-the-editor/letter-eq-and-iq-critical-for-children-to-thrive-1.1046440#sthash.pZEveEFB.dpuf

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Why I’m pulling my kids out of public school

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Why I’m pulling my kids out of public school
By Lynne Rigby
Sunday, June 8, 2014 6:21pm

Lynne Rigby with her husband and five children. “Today’s public school atmosphere is all about accountability and not about the actual needs of the child,’’ she writes in her open letter to Gov. Rick Scott and school officials. “Not everything in education can be quantified.’’ Lynne Rigby photo

Editor’s note: More than 150,000 people have read a posting byLynne Rigby, a 40-year-old Seminole County mother of five children, on her website, lynnerigby.com. Rigby, a former teacher, addressed it to Gov, Rick Scott and Seminole school officials. The following is a condensed version.

I am a parent of five children in Seminole County schools, aged 4 to 16. My husband and I are deeply embedded in this community. We are both successful products of Lake Brantley High School. I graduated from the University of Georgia in 1995 and came back to Seminole to teach kindergarten; he is currently the pitching coach for the Lake Brantley varsity baseball team. We stayed here so our kids would be blessed with a similar educational experience.

This year has been completely disheartening for us. You see, I’ve been okay with FCAT … show what you know, I get it … some sort of accountability. That was until this year. My third-grade son, Jackson, has had mostly As, a scattering of Bs through his Bear Lake Elementary career, much like his brothers. However, he has had the Discovery Education tests added to his school year. I saw his score on DE in first grade and it was scary low, in the 20s. But his teacher said he was doing fine. Same thing in 2nd grade, though knowing that FCAT was looming, I began to panic a bit.

We read out loud together each night through the summer, talked about the books as we read, and I believed that would pay off on the first DE test of third grade because he was doing really well. I was wrong. His first DE test was similar to others, but now his teachers started panicking because their pay depends on it. He was sent to remedial LEAP and ultimately a math pullout group. All the while he has had mostly As and a few Bs.

Disconnect. That’s the word that plays over in my head. How can he do all his homework on his own, never struggling with any topic and get such a low percentile on a test? Then, an epiphany. What is the validity of this test? How does it relate to our curriculum?

https://www.tampabay.com/news/education/k12/why-im-pulling-my-kids-out-of-public-school/2183493