Forum On High-Stakes Testing On Wednesday

Another round of standardized testing is underway, and if you have concerns about how increased emphasis on these tests will impact your kids, consider attending an upcoming meeting on the topic.

The School-to-School Dialogue on High Stakes Testing will take place tomorrow, Wednesday, April 15 from 7-9pm at the Old First Reformed Church, 729 Carroll Street at 7th Avenue (RSVP here). Co-sponsored by Councilmember Brad Lander, Senator Jesse Hamilton, and Assemblymember Jo Anne Simon, the event aims to provide a continuing community dialogue and a chance to organize around the issues, as a panel of educators, parents, and advocates lead the discussion.

“If you feel as strongly as I do, I encourage you to come,” Lander wrote in an email. “With your help we can work together towards a better system of evaluation and support – one that’s based around learning, thinking, and real engagement, not the answers to a standardized test.”

As a growing number of families opt out of taking the tests — thousands reportedly opted out last year — and a debate continues over linking test results to teacher evaluations, some local schools are apparently pressuring families to not opt out. According to DNAinfo, parents at MS 51 on 5th Avenue and New Voices Middle School on 18th Street have felt bullied into refusing the tests.

What have your experiences been? Is your child opting out or sitting for tests this week?