Say No to SBAC

Posted on May 17, 2015 by Poetic Justice

I am reblogging this from Ann Cronin’s excellent blog Real Learning CT. Although Ann is talking about the SBAC test, these 10 reasons to say “no” to the testing are applicable to all the common core standardized testing throughout the country.

#DoNoHarm
#2015YearoftheStudent

Real Learning CT

Connecticut currently mandates the testing of public school students in grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 11 with standardized tests produced by the Smarter Balance Assessment Consortium (SBAC). I am opposed to SBAC testing for English language arts because those tests neither measure authentic achievement nor foster students’ growth as readers, writers, and thinkers. Here are 10 reasons to STOP the harmful SBAC testing.

SBAC tests are not rigorous.

The tests do not demand complex thinking. The tests are aligned to the Common Core standards, and the content of the Common Core Standards for English Language Arts is inferior content which does not serve to develop students as motivated, engaged readers and effective writers.

SBAC tests are not field-tested for college and career readiness.

No one knows if a good score indicates that a student will be successful in college or careers or if a poor score indicates…

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To Test or Not to TEST? STOP THE INSANITY NOW – great new web film from Michael Elliott coming SOON!

Posted on March 20, 2015 by Poetic Justice

There is another powerful video coming soon that will seal the fate of the high stakes test movement in the United States. A Parent, a Teacher, and a Principal are interviewed in this amazing web film from producer Michael Elliott.

Bottom line – if you take the test, you are supporting the education reform movement. If you refuse the test, you are sending the message that the reformers are just plain wrong for America.

Refuse the test – use your PARENT, TEACHER, ADMINISTRATOR VOICES!

We have more power and influence than we think we have.

So watch for this ground breaking video coming out in just a few days.

ATTENTION ALL READERS – I saw the web film that is going to bring down the PARCC test!

Posted on February 27, 2015 by Poetic Justice

I just previewed a short (about four minutes) but very powerful and moving web film that I truly believe is going to bring down the PARCC test. The video is on the continuous test preparation and the deleterious effects on our students and how parents are crying out for the abuse to be stopped now. It is full of parents voicing the truth about how their precious children are being damaged and how the love of learning is being destroyed before it has a chance to bud and blossom.

When I watched the film, it brought tears to my eyes and it also made me extremely angry. I felt really angry because just stopping the PARCC/SBAC tests is not going to stop the abuse. We have to stop the test – the evaluations – and the intrusion of profiteers into our classrooms. This film is one huge step in this war against the dehumanization of education.

So set your clocks and start the countdown now. The PARCC is going to come down with the premiere of this web film this Sunday March 1, 2015 at 5 PM EST, 4 PM CST and 2 PM PST. I will be posting it and will be asking all of you to post it far and wide.

So please get the word out that this web film is on the way.

UPDATE: The web film is finally out – Watch it here! From the amazing film maker Michael Elliot.