Outrages (Susan Ohanian Speaks Out)

Outrages

9486 in the collection

National Assessment Reformers call on Maryland Board of Education to Reject Proposals for High School Exit Exam.

We are in this together. Other concerned persons should write to members of the Maryland Board of Education--immediately:

(Oct. 30 & 31) the Maryland State Board of Ed. will be casting a final vote on whether the class of 2009 will lose diplomas to the Maryland High School Assessments. The State Superintendent has thrown out a proposal to allow for an extra-curricular "senior project option" for those who pass all required classes but fail one or more of the exit exams after so many attempts - but this option is still very sketchy and we believe that, because of technicalities, it will help very few students. Anyway -- we need to swing just one or two votes to ensure that no one from the class of 2009 loses a diploma to the HSAs. Our new Governor (who opposes high stakes testing) has been able to appoint several new board member who could make all the difference. If you have time before next Tuesday - could you please drop our state board members an email? If your state has already gone to the exit exam "dark side" - could you tell them what this has done to the students in your state? We especially need them to hear about Massachusetts - because they have been sold a bill of goods about the "MCAS Miracle." Anyway - we need all the help we can get on or before Tuesday. At any rate - we need them to feel like all eyes are on Maryland next week! The board members' email addresses are list below.

Yours in struggle -

Sue Allison, Marylanders Against High Stakes Testing

,
Blair Ewing < priorities@rcn.com>,
Charlene Dukes ,
David Tufaro ,
Dick Goodall ,
Dunbar Brooks < dbrooks@baltometro.org>,
Hank Butta ,
Karabelle Pizzigati ,
Mary Kay Finan < mfinan@frostburg.edu>,
Renford Freemantle RenfordF@aol.com,
Rosa Garcia -- rosigarcia1@gmail.com,
Board office: stateboard@msde.state.md.us

Press Release

FairTest
National Center for Fair & Open Testing

for further information:
Dr. Monty Neill (617) 864-4810
or Bob Schaeffer (239) 395-6773

for immediate release, Monday, October 29, 2007
NAT'L ASSESSMENT REFORMERS CALL ON MARYLAND BOARD OF EDUCATION
TO REJECT PROPOSALS FOR HIGH SCHOOL EXIT EXAM;
"GRADUATION TESTS HURT, NOT HELP STUDENTS, SCHOOLS AND SOCIETY"

The country's leading assessment reform organization today called on the Maryland Board of Education to reject proposals for a "one-size fits all" high school exit exam. In a letter delivered to board members, the National Center for Fair & Open Testing (FairTest) wrote "More than two decades of evidence demonstrates that high school graduation tests are the wrong prescription for what ails public education."

The FairTest letter continued, "In fact, such requirements damage the very groups proponents claim they will help. Across the county, misguided exit exam mandates have increased drop-out rates, especially among minority groups, and focused classroom teaching on test preparation rather than 21st Century skills."

FairTest acknowledged that Maryland schools face serious problems including gaps in educational access, quality and outcomes. It noted, however, "[E]xams won't cure these ills. For too many students, the cure is worse than the disease. Rather than provide better education and expanded opportunities, graduation tests add punishment - denial of a diploma - to those who most need help."

The letter included data on increasing dropout rates in California and diploma denials in Texas after those states adopted high school exit exams. It also argued that high-stakes testing "undermines rather than improves education. Untested subjects are ignored, while tested topics narrow to test coaching programs."

In Massachusetts, which Maryland exit exam proponents frequently cite, dropouts increased among minority and limited English proficient students after an exit exam requirement was adopted, according to statistics provided by FairTest. The problem was particularly severe in low-income urban districts. FairTest closely monitors the state because its headquarters is in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

As an alternative to the proposed graduation testing mandate, FairTest called on Maryland to follow the lead of states such as Rhode Island, Wyoming and Nebraska, which use multiple measures to award diplomas. "Other states have avoided the exit exam route specifically because they recognized the costs can outweigh the benefits," the FairTest letter concluded.

- - 30 - -
The full FairTest letter to Maryland Board of Education members is online at http://www.fairtest.org/Maryland.pdf

— Fair Test
Press Release
2007-10-30

INDEX OF OUTRAGES

Pages: 380
[1] 2 3 4 5 6 Next >> Last >>