Delaware needs Superintendents like this who will speak with such passion and honesty. Which one can do it first? This is my challenge to ALL of you. It’s time to stop the cycle of abuse being perpetrated on our schools by Governor Markell, the DOE and the US DOE. Superintendents have some of the largest voices in our communities, and you carry a lot of weight with people. We need you to speak up now! See what former Brandywine Superintendent James Scanlon had to say about all this nonsense in education these days! Dr. Mark Holodick and Dr. Scanlon are miles apart on this. We need more Scanlons!
Standardized Testing
Watch A 4th Grader Slam Standardized Testing!!!!
Standardized TestingFeds Turn Down NY’s Testing Accommodations for Students withDisabilities
Standardized TestingDelaware just passed a similar law. Does that mean the Delaware law is shut down too? Senator Poore will be very angry if this is the case. As will several other parents. This is where it begins folks.
New York proposed to exempt up to 2% of students with severe disabilities from federally required state tests.
The U.S. Department of Education said no. Last year, 95% of students with disabilities failed the new Common Core tests in New York.
Leaders of national organizations supposedly representing students with disabilities hailed the DOE’s de is ion to hold these students to the same standards, which the overwhelming majority will fail.
Peter Goodman wrote about the Common Core exams:
“Parents and teachers across the state protested – the exams were poorly prepared, school staffs not trained and parents of SWD were especially critical – the tests were far beyond the cognitive ability of their children and were emotionally harmful. After months of discussions the state, in its application for an extension of the NCLB Flexibility Waiver asked for a change.
New York State had proposed allowing up to 2 percent…
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FAIRTEST: The Weekly Round-Up on Resistance to Testing
Standardized TestingWhy couldn’t Delaware be on this list? C’mon Delaware teachers! If you don’t speak up, no one will hear you. We need your voice!
Parents, educators, students and activists in many communities are using the “quiet” summer months to plan campaigns that will build the assessment reform movement’s power once schools reopen. Across the country, more and more media outlets are reporting on the impact grassroots organizing already has made on policy-makers.
Remember that archived issues of these weekly updates are online at http://fairtest.org/news — a quick review of the clips demonstrates how much progress Testing Resistance & Reform Spring made this year.
How California Can Drive Reform With Better Instruction Not More Testing
blogs.edweek.org/edweek/on_california/2014/07/how_to_drive_reform_with_instruction_rather_than_testing.html
Connecticut Professor: We’re Teaching to the Test, Not for Students’ Futures
http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/op_ed/hc-op-barreca-were-teaching-to-test-notstudents-fu-20140722,0,7046183.column
Florida Schools Need “Recess” From Test-Driven Evaluation
http://www.newsherald.com/opinions/editorials/our-view-they-can-t-live-on-tests-alone-1.346996
FairTest Challenges New Florida Test-Based Scholarship Program as Race, Gender Biased
http://news.wfsu.org/post/group-plans-federal-challenge-new-florida-scholarship-program
Louisiana Schools Stare Into Common Core Testing Abyss
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/state_edwatch/2014/07/common-core_fight_in_louisiana_.html
A “Test” for New Jersey Governor’s Standardized Exam Study Commission
http://www.northjersey.com/opinion/opinion-a-test-for-the-governor-s-study-commission-1.1053970
New Mexicans Test Legislators About Flawed Teacher…
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@DSEA1 press release brings more schizophrenic fail on DCAS test score release, VAM, and the need to support teachers. #netDE
Standardized TestingJohn Young breaks down this letter the DSEA sent in regards to the “gains” and “flatlines” made by students on DCAS this year. And the Smarter Balanced Assessment will be tougher? Way to go Delaware! Let’s set up more failure!
One child’s rigor is another child’s mental breakdown
Standardized TestingAll Delaware parents, teachers, and politicians need to read this. When your child comes home next year after taking the Smarter Balanced Assessment, and they are frustrated like you have never seen them before, this will be why…
The most valuable assessments in schools today is the running record. Running records measure both fluency and comprehension for each student. From this data, teachers can determine the appropriate level to instruct a child in reading. Teachers can also determine the child’s “frustration” level. “Frustration” is determined when a child’s accuracy falls below 90% or there is a complete lack of comprehension. Testing young children to the point of “frustration” may sound inhumane, but it is for a very brief moment in time and the assessment is done in a 1:1 setting. The teacher can end the assessment at any point.
Teachers are well aware of the reading levels for each child in their classroom. They are also aware of each child’s “frustration” level. While it is good practice to instruct students at or above their reading levels, it makes no sense at all to test a child for 3…
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The Season Of Myths 