TESTING 2016 - LETTER TO NYSUT

Today's epistolary offering: (written to the president of NYSUT)

With the testing season nearly upon us, I was hoping to hear from NYSUT regarding your position on support for the 2016 tests.  Last year your voice was loud and clear. I've closely read the "changes" the Commissioner is so proud of, and I've met with her personally.  It is abundantly clear that despite the appearance of change, NOTHING has actually been made different.  None of the four main concerns she said she heard articulated by stakeholders has been addressed in an effective or substantive way.  How can we support the tests this year as if something had actually changed?

Upon close reading you would be hard-pressed to consider SED's responses worthy of increased trust and therefore increased participation in the 2016 testing season.

In response to the widespread concern that students "did not have enough time to apply their best reading skills in the time allowed," the New York State Department of Education reduced the amount of reading passages and test questions by exactly one reading passage and the accompanying questions. 


Do they really believe this "will decrease testing fatigue for some students?"


In response to the widespread concern that students sit too long for tests, the State claims to be "pleased to announce the transition to untimed testing for the Spring 2016 Grades 3-8 ELA and Mathematics Tests." 

They go on to say that as "NYSED also received extensive feedback from educators from throughout the State about the inability of students to work at their own pace on the Grades 3-8 ELA and Mathematics Tests" students are now being given almost limitless time to complete the tests.  

NYSED supports this decision by claiming, "This change will provide students further opportunity to demonstrate what they know and can do by allowing them to work at their own pace. In general, this will mean that as long as students are productively working they will be allowed as much time as they need to complete the ELA and Mathematics tests. Additionally, this change in policy may help alleviate the pressures that some students may experience as a result of taking an assessment they must complete during a limited amount of time."

Really?!  Is it just me or do these "changes" sound more like editing and shell games?

Can these changes honestly be characterized as substantive responses to the significant concerns parents, teachers, and students have raised in response to testing in Grades 3-8?

I've written to NYSED and yesterday I had the opportunity to speak with Commissioner Elia directly.  THERE IS NOTHING SUBSTANTIALLY CHANGED FOR THIS YEAR despite the claim that "These changes are just some of the efforts that NYSED is committed to implementing to improve the quality of the State’s assessments and the experiences that students have taking these tests."

It is difficult for me as a dedicated and concerned teacher to see these changes as an honest effort to improve anything.  It's hard not to take these decisions as anything more than a slap in the face. There is nothing in the actions of the State that can be considered a serious response to significant and serious concerns. 

To be sure, the tests will continue to be inappropriately long in item number.  (Removing the ridiculously few items indicated does not in any way address concerns that students are being asked to take inappropriately lengthy tests.)  And it is hard to understand what "un-timing the tests" will do to address the concern that students experience stress when facing a timed test.  When I met with the Commissioner yesterday, she was very unclear on what administering an untimed test would ultimately look like.  If you can't envision it for yourself, how can you make it happen in a  workable way for students?

Please, join us together in a unified voice of concern and committed critical analysis of the facts.  Change has not yet come.

Thanks,