Study Commission Pt.3: What Public Testimony?
In Part 1 and Part 2 of this series, I dissected the report issued by the Study Commission on the Use of Student Assessments in New Jersey. In Parts 3 and 4 (coming tomorrow), education activist Sue Altman reports on the public testimony that was not only downplayed in the final report in terms of numbers of persons who testified, but completely ignored in the commission's recommendations.
Here's Sue's report:
Here's Sue's report:
On three separate dates in early 2015, in three locations in New Jersey, over 200 individuals testified on the issue of high stakes testing in New Jersey as part of the Study Commission on the Use of Student Assessments in New Jersey. It took a full year for the report to be published to the public; in fact, while the original document was dated November 30, 2015, the document was not released to the public until January 11, 2016. This was the same day as a Board of Education meeting at which I spoke on this very issue:
.
So, who testified?
The Department held testimony at three locations, and also provided an opportunity for people to submit testimony via email.
| Submitted Written Testimony | 118 |
| Jersey City | 26 |
| Jackson | 42 |
| Blackwood | 23 |
| TOTAL: | 209 |
(The State report states there were 100.)
Jerseyans from all walks of life took part in this democractic exercise, and that in itself is inspirational. There Marie Corfield: Study Commission Pt.3: What Public Testimony?: