The Delaware PTA just unveiled a press release to their members on their views of the recently announced Smarter Balanced Assessment results. These are questions everyone in this state should be asking, especially our legislators. They voted this into state code, and as far as I’m concerned, they can vote it right out!
DELAWARE PTA
9/8/2015
On Wednesday September 4, 2015 the Delaware Department of Education released the overall results of the Smarter Balanced Assessments in Math and ELA English Language Arts). Overall, the proficiency rates are exactly where we expected they would be, especially for schools with a higher concentration of at risk populations.
We have long maintained that an assessment is only effective when weighed against its intended use and purpose. The true purpose of assessments should be to determine gaps in learning and ensure that the state is directing the appropriate resources to the students and schools that need it most. As parents, it is our responsibility to make sure that any assessments our children take serve this purpose and this purpose only. Testing outcomes used for any other purpose, have no value for parents, teachers or students.
In the next two weeks, parents across the state will begin to receive their student’s SBAC assessment report.
When looking at these scores, parents should be asking the following questions:
1. What does this score mean for my child at the classroom level?
2. How is the state ensuring resources are making it directly into the classroom to help my child and other students?
3. How is the state supporting districts and teachers in using this information to make instructional changes?
4. How is your district using the SBAC scores? Are they using them as a single indicator of student success?
We always encourage open and ongoing communications between home and school. This is also a great opportunity to engage your district leadership, school board, as well as the Delaware Department of Education on exactly how and why this test will help your student.
Look for additional PTA communications on how you can become involved and support our advocacy efforts to secure and protect your rights as parents; and ensure that assessment data is used to support, not punish our schools.
[Read more on DPTA’s position on SBAC and HB50]
Delaware PTA Executive Committee
The Season Of Myths 
When my first born entered first grade I went to PTA meetings and sat as discussion immediately centered and focused on fund raisers… Should we do candles? Or food? Should we use Corgi’s, or another firm.. I didn’t know anything and sat and listened to all the opinions and thought….. this is a waste of my time.
This year, I urge every parent to go to their PTA’s .. I urge you to ask, “what stand is the PTA going to take on this test?’
I then urge you to say, “I want all my PTA dollars going towards abolishing this test… ” If they don’t go there, I’m not paying dues…”
If you are not the one who stands up first, by all means chime in “Me Too.” “Me Too”… When election of officers comes up, all of you need to unite behind the person who first stood up making them president in charge of your chapter.
Here’s why… The top echelon faces browbeating daily from the corporate media and its flunkies… THEY NEED TO KNOW you are behind them and that for the sanity of all children, we need to abolish this test.
If you get pushed aside, walk out… This is a one issue year. Whether they sell Corgi’s or Yankee Candles will no longer make a difference to your child….
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