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In reply to the discussion: STOCK MARKET WATCH -- Thursday, 19 April 2012 [View all]Demeter
(85,373 posts)36. In New York, Parents Just Say No to School Testing
http://www.alternet.org/story/155027/in_new_york%2C_parents_just_say_no_to_school_testing?akid=8614.227380.F_4OoQ&rd=1&t=31
...a small number of parents are boycotting this years state tests, choosing to keep their children home or away from class out of protest against the tests growing importance.
Test scores have long been used to judge students readiness for the next grade. And for the last several years, the city has rated each school based in large part on how students perform on state tests. But this year, the test scores could end up being used to rate teachers, too, if the city adopts new teacher evaluations as mandated by state law. This years tests are also longer than ever: about 300 minutes for each grade, more than twice what some students spent on testing in the past.
Last year, the Grassroots Education Movement, traditionally an outlet for activist teachers, launched a campaign to draw attention to and, ideally, lower those stakes. The parents who are opting out of the tests are part of GEMs Change the Stakes committee, which is holding a forum on high-stakes testing Tuesday evening.
Only a few parents have committed to keeping their children out of the tests, but they say they are willing to go it alone to raise awareness about the pressure that students and schools are under....
...a small number of parents are boycotting this years state tests, choosing to keep their children home or away from class out of protest against the tests growing importance.
Test scores have long been used to judge students readiness for the next grade. And for the last several years, the city has rated each school based in large part on how students perform on state tests. But this year, the test scores could end up being used to rate teachers, too, if the city adopts new teacher evaluations as mandated by state law. This years tests are also longer than ever: about 300 minutes for each grade, more than twice what some students spent on testing in the past.
Last year, the Grassroots Education Movement, traditionally an outlet for activist teachers, launched a campaign to draw attention to and, ideally, lower those stakes. The parents who are opting out of the tests are part of GEMs Change the Stakes committee, which is holding a forum on high-stakes testing Tuesday evening.
Only a few parents have committed to keeping their children out of the tests, but they say they are willing to go it alone to raise awareness about the pressure that students and schools are under....
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