What do YOU think of standardized tests?
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Whatever you think of the myriad standardized state exams grade- and middle-schoolers take every year, the New York State Education Department wants to know — and quickly, too.
The state’s Board of Regents is considering changes to the elementary and middle-school testing program, and is asking all New York City public school parents to weigh in here with their thoughts.
The deadline to respond is this Friday, February 27. Completing the 10-question survey should only take a few minutes (although there’s space to elaborate on responses, if you so desire).
It’s a given that parents want to influence their child’s experiences with standardized testing. For what it’s worth, here’s a chance to speak out — please do, and feel free to forward as widely as possible to be certain that the greatest number of New York City parents make their opinions known.
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I find it a complete joke that a survey about what parents think of standardized tests is really a survey of when and how to administer them. The DOE is clearly not interested in what parents think of these tests (a sorry joke). I find the process of these tests tedious and counter-productive. Do a couple of days a year, as close to mid-year as possible and leave this nonsense behind teachers and students.
IF these tests are a necessary evil treat them as such instead of making them the fulcrum of the year.
Comment by Tal Klausner — February 26, 2009 @ 9:52 am
Amen Tal!
Comment by Anonymous — February 26, 2009 @ 10:36 am
Tal, I share your disappointment that the survey is far more about calendar than content, and also concur that consolidating testing into a few days’ time would make far better sense for student learning. That said, a chance to weigh in is still a toe (if not a foot) in the door — but whether NYSED and DOE actually end up shaping policy based on parent opinion remains entirely unknown.
Comment by Helen — February 26, 2009 @ 11:07 am