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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.

Join us for a webinar on Feb 12, 2017 at 8:00 PM EST.

Register now!

https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/3706654188322704899

Full-Time Strategic Planning Consultant/Potential Executive Director

Take-charge visionary sought to develop strategic action plan for national advocacy organization rooted in education and civil rights issues as its current leadership heads toward retirement. Our ideal candidate will have the desire to succeed the outgoing executive director.

Technology “permits us now to do in nanoseconds things we shouldn’t be doing at all.”
– Gerald Bracey

Education policymakers and technology providers have joined forces to accelerate a longtime push for “test data-driven” education interventions. Both sectors look to computer-based curricula and data collected with online tests to control classrooms and define educational outcomes.

Tomorrow, November 29, is “Giving Tuesday,” a national time for generous donors like you to provide much needed funding for the non-profits whose work they support

To help eliminate high-stakes standardized exams, please take advantage of this special day to support FairTest.

Simply go to http://www.fairtest.org and use the red “Donate” button at the top right.