BOARD OF REGENTS PLANNING TO MAKE FIELD TESTS MANDATORY! This past spring several Monroe County school districts (including Webster) did not fully participate in the administration of stand-alone field testing. The administration of these stand-alone tests has never been required, and it has been shown that the most valid means of field testing is through embedded questions on the currently required New York State tests. We believe that there is too much testing in this country and in New York State. Ironically, New York State Education Department (NYSED) is proposing (and has tentative approval) to mandate additional testing in the form of stand-alone field tests. It could be said that stand-alone field tests benefit big-money test makers and are in effect doing their job on the backs of children and teachers. Earlier this month, the New York State Board of Regents put forth a proposal that would force school districts to participate in 40-minute stand-alone field testing, whether districts believe it is in the best interests of students or not. The Webster Central School District Board of Education and the Webster Interim Superintendent of Schools are opposed to this proposal, and we are urging families to have your voices heard by our Board of Regents. Together, we can advocate on behalf of our children here in Webster and across the State. The Regents’ proposed amendment can be found at regents.nysed.gov/meetings/2014/November2014/1114p12d2.pdf. Please take a few minutes to email the Board of Regents, and our representatives in the New York State Legislature, to oppose making field tests mandatory. Here is what you can do: 1. Open your email and copy and paste the following email addresses into the “To” line: [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected]; [email protected] [email protected] [email protected] 2. Enter “Oppose Mandatory Field Testing of NY Students” in the “Subject” line. 3. Sample message: “I am a stakeholder in the Webster Central School District and I am writing to let you know of my strong opposition to the Board of Regents’ proposal that would require all school districts to administer stand-alone field testing to students. Students in New York have already endured a considerable test load brought about by Common Core and APPR. To shut off the one relief valve our schools have to ease the testing burden on them is not only ill-timed, it is unreasonable. Now, more than ever, our students need leadership that is vested in preserving precious instructional time and boosting classroom learning, rather than handing it over to big business test makers. When you revisit this issue in the coming weeks, please keep the needs our students at the forefront of the field testing discussion.” 4. Copy the same message and email NYSED before January 20, 2015, the last day for public comment period related to the proposed amendment. The email address is [email protected]. 5. Share this message with friends and family in other school districts to amplify the voice of opposition to mandatory field testing. Special thanks to Dr. William Cala, Superintendent of Fairport CSD, for his leadership in this effort. Thanks for joining us as we advocate for the best interests of our students. Sincerely, Carmen Gumina Interim Superintendent, Webster CSD Michael Suffoletto President, Board of Education
Posted on: Mon, 05 Jan 2015 15:28:52 +0000
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