I strongly implore DSEA to issue a press release giving their full support for the override of Governor Markell’s veto of House Bill 50.
Last April, the Delaware State Education Association issued a press release with their very strong stance against the way Delaware was using standardized testing. They also gave their full support for a parent’s right to opt their child out of standardized testing.
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PRESS RELEASE |
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for immediate release |
Contact person: David WrightCompany: Delaware State Education Association Phone: (302) 734-5834 Fax: (302) 674-9499 Email: david.wright@dsea.org Website: www.dsea.org |
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Standardized testing plays over-sized role in the Delaware public education system
Dover, Del. April 1st — The Delaware State Education Association (DSEA) is concerned about the growing amounts of time, money and energy spent on high-stakes and standardized testing, as well as the use of student performance on these tests to make major decisions affecting individual students, educators, and schools.
The overreliance on high-stakes and standardized testing in state and federal accountability systems continues to undermine educational quality and equity in U.S. public schools. It hampers educators’ efforts to focus on the skills and knowledge that will allow students to thrive in a democracy and an increasingly global society and economy.
DSEA believes that standardized testing is an inadequate and often unreliable measure of both student learning and educator effectiveness.
The over-emphasis on standardized testing has caused considerable collateral damage in too many schools. It is narrowing curriculums, fostering a ‘teach to the test’ approach, reducing love of learning, driving excellent teachers out of the profession, and undermining school climate.
For these reasons, DSEA supports a parent’s right to opt their child out of standardized testing.
DSEA also supports locally developed, authentic assessments as drivers of instruction and increasing the time allotted for educators to teach and students to learn.
We call on the Governor, General Assembly, state Board of Education, local education boards, and administrators to reexamine the public school accountability systems currently used in Delaware.
We urge these decision-making bodies to develop a system that is based on multiple forms of evidence, does not require extensive standardized testing, accurately reflects the broad range of student learning, and can be used to support students and improve schools.
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DSEA also backed Senate Joint Resolution #2, the assessment inventory. But not as an opposition to parental rights. They believe local assessments serve a legitimate purpose in our schools. DSEA was very opposed to the harsh opt-out penalties in the school report card. DSEA President had many concerns when she spoke at the September State Board of Education meeting. Her comments were not heeded as the State Board approved factors in the Delaware School Success Framework that give accountability ratings for Delaware schools with most of the weights coming from results from the Smarter Balanced Assessment.
The Season Of Myths 
They have not been mobilized in their efforts. As a parent, it upsets me that teachers will not stand up and fight for the kids. Especially when the test results are being used to punish them along with the schools. Stop being afraid of the DOE and stand with parents now! It’s now or never and don’t ask me to have your back if you aren’t looking out for my child!
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I would think as dues-paying members of DSEA they could certainly use their title as “Member of DSEA” to support this.
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You cannot hold teachers accountable for this nonsense. They have been thrown under the bus and had it backed up over them too many times. They have been told if they support parent opt out they could be fired for intentionally sabotaging the school’s AYP. Teachers are in a no win situation and their union seems to be supporting those who have done nothing but suppress and strip a teacher’s professional stature and clout. Most teachers are not pot-stirrers and this is all very stressful and unpleasant for them. I don’t know many teachers who could just quit their jobs because they are financially able to do so.
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Kevin, don’t hold your breath. Had a 50+ FB message exchange on this issue. Was told I was an asshole and that the DSEA doesn’t want to die on this hill no matter what the RA unanimously voted to approve. It was a lesson in the disconnect of DSEA leadership to their membership. Possibly a lesson in the “at the table/on the table argument”.
My take away was that the executive leadership of the DSEA is positively spineless on the issue.
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I would love to see that exchange! Listen, the leadership of the DSEA has vaguely stated their vagueness on state testing and HB 50. They know they have to represent, but they do so with a whisper. No one questions and everyone just moves on with the status quo. Their members think that if there was something to be alarmed about, they would be told. I asked what the local and state union stand was on the the HB 50 veto and everyone in the room looked at each other as if to say, “What is this person talking about?” Incredible.
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