It’s the only thing that makes sense. Here’s why. Delaware Secretary of Education Mark Murphy said last fall that he expects over 70% of students taking the Smarter Balanced Assessment to not make proficiency. This was echoed by Director Of Assessment at the DOE, Brian Touchette. Only Touchette said he expects this trend for the next few years. To me, a few usually means at least three, if not more.
Why would the DOE, Murphy, Governor Markell and certain legislators want to keep a test that so many students will do badly on? Do you really think we are that naïve to think it’s because the children aren’t ready for the rigorous curriculum? I would hope not. The reason is because if students do bad, it gives all those companies more reason to keep pumping out their products and services. Pearson, Rodel, Vision (now called Schools That Care), and so on.
By having our kids even take this test, we are subjecting them to less funding, larger classrooms, teacher accountability that has been flawed from the start, extra stress, less instructional time and more money for hedge fund investors and charter school operators who are banking (literally) on this.
Opt out is the only option, even if your child has already started the test. Do not let your administrators: superintendents & principals intimidate you. Do not let them tell you your child HAS TO take the test. They will cite law, regulation and code, but at the end of the day there is NOTHING written in the law about a parent opting their child out. Be proactive and destroy this corporate Ponzi scheme in our schools.
The Season Of Myths 
If the students do poorly, then eventually the entire state would no longer have any public schools; they would all be privatized charters. I’m still thinking the plan was based on an undisclosed agreement between Murdoch and Gates (PARCC/SBA); because you can’t have a monopoly can you? They put up the money for RTT, CCSS, and whatever other programs would destroy public education and in return for their investment, they are guaranteed the untapped future earnings potential on education testing materials, test prep and curriculum software programs and textbooks for charters across the nation. What does the U.S. Department of Education get in return? Well, Gates promises to get involved with the OECD and wins the PISA test-restructuring bid. Now, the U.S. will know exactly what the test will consist of. Then, since all high schools will eventually be charters, the government can hand-pick which high schools participate in the PISA testing. Voila! We win the “Race to the Top” of the PISA test scores by hook or by crook. Because THAT is what this whole reform movement has been about. A jock mentality that we must win and be number one. What else would you expect from Arne (professional basketball extraordinaire) Duncan?
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Cancel the contract on this worthless test…state budget issues solved…
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eric, you are a freakin GENIUS!!!
maybe you should be governor
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I haven’t had any problem opting my children out of the test but I was contacted today by a fellow teacher who wanted to “look into” opting out and was then told the district was going to try to make everyone take the test. I thought try was an interesting choice of words. Anyway, her child took the performance part yesterday and was in tears so she got serious about opting out. I referred her to your site since it was my resource and I have opted out children in 2 districts with minimum push back. Thanks for your efforts.
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