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FairTest worked with the National Coalition of Urban Education Associations (NCUEA) Time on Learning Committee to develop a survey that teacher unions can use with their members to expose the consequences of high-stakes testing. It can be adapted for use by parent, student and community groups.

The survey is available at https://www.jotform.com/form-templates/2017-time-to-learn-survey.

Fact Sheet/Hoja informativa

• Standardized Testing and Young Children
   
• Hoja informativa sobre las pruebas y los niños pequeños

Does Inclusion in Testing Mean Inclusion in Meaningful Learning?

1. Federal law requires 95% test participation, including for the vast majority of students with disabilities. (One percent of all students may be assessed to alternative standards with alternative assessments. Federal law leaves it up to each state to decide what to do if a school or district does not test 95%.) The theory is that full inclusion in testing will drive full inclusion in learning the “standard” academic curriculum.

New and Updated Fact Sheets:

Here are new and updated tools that parents, teachers, students and their allies can use to battle the overuse and misuse of standardized tests.

for further information:

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

TESTIMONY IN SUPPORT OF SENATE BILL 452

MARYLAND SENATE EDUCATION, HEALTH & ENVIRONMENTAL AFFAIRS COMMITTEE

ROBERT A. SCHAEFFER, PUBLIC EDUCATION DIRECTOR

NATIONAL CENTER FOR FAIR & OPEN TESTING (FAIRTEST)

FEBRUARY 15, 2017

Parents and students often fear the threat that if they opt out of state exams, their school could lose funding. However, this is an empty threat: no school has lost funding because of opting out.

In fact, the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) specifically authorizes states to allow parents to opt their children out of exams. Ten states (Alaska, California, Colorado, Idaho, North Dakota, Minnesota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Utah and Wisconsin) have laws specifically allowing parents to opt their children out. None has ever been sanctioned.