resistance

 M E D I A   A D V I S O R Y T H U R S D A Y,   J A N U A R Y   1 0 ,   2 0 1 3

Show your support for the teachers’ boycott of the MAP tests.

The teachers have set up a petition, which you can sign at

https://www.change.org/petitions/seattle-public-schools-support-garfield-high-school-teachers-refusing-to-administer-the-map?utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=url_share&utm_campaign=url_share_before_sign

A boycott by Seattle teachers of district mandated Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) tests has drawn support from educators, parents and students across the country. Teachers said they refused to administer the tests because they cover material they are not expected to teach, they take too much time away from learning, especially for struggling students, and giving the MAP tests ties up computer labs for weeks. FairTest supports these teachers and others who are taking a stand against testing overuse and misuse.

1. Sign yourself and persuade your local school board and community organizations to endorse the National Resolution on High-Stakes Testing. It is on the web at: http://timeoutfromtesting.org/nationalresolution/. Also:
   a)    Endorse the Joint Organizational Statement on NCLB.
   b)    Use NCLB overhaul recommendations of Forum on Educational Accountability (FEA).

for further information:

Bob Schaeffer   (239) 395-6773
              cell    (239) 699-0468   

for immediate release, Tuesday, September 11, 2012

Thu, 08/23/2012 - 9:55pm

Resistance to High Stakes Testing Spreads

A national resolution to limit standardized testing is gathering support.

By: Bob Schaeffer

District Administration, September 2012

Here are sample letters for you to use in encouraging friends, local school boards, allied organizations, and state and national legislators to endorse the Resolution. There are also sample letters to the editor and op-eds. We encourage you to submit these to your local paper or blogs.

Sample letters to friends and others:

Stop testing madness, create culture to truly prepare students

Posted: Thursday, May. 17, 2012 – Charlotte Observer op ed

From Pamela Grundy and Carol Sawyer, co-chairs of Mecklenburg Area Coming Together for Schools:

It’s test week, and every public school teacher and parent in North Carolina knows what that means.

It's MCAS time in Massachusetts. Our children, like their peers around the country, are spending less time learning, more time prepping for, taking and worrying about standardized tests.

Are you are concerned about the ever-increasing influence of standardized testing on your children? Do you have the feeling that your child is getting test prep while suburban kids are still learning a broad and deep curriculum that better prepares them for college and careers? Take heart. A national rebellion started Monday, April 23, and is spreading rapidly throughout the United States.