State School Board Member Dismantles Federal “Reminder” On Standardized Testing
In December, the United States Department of Education’s Office of Elementary and Secondary Education sent a letter out to all “Chief State School Officers” (i.e., state superintendents) in order to “take this opportunity to remind you of key assessment requirements that exist under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (ESEA). These requirements will remain in place for the 2015-2016 school year, and similar requirements are included in the recently signed reauthorization of the ESEA, known as the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).“
One of Ohio’s State School Board Members, A. J. Wagner, decided to respond to the letter (as an individual, not in his official capacity) and posted his outstanding reply on Facebook. We’ve decided to share both the letter from the USDoE and Retired Judge Wagner’s response here for a well-deserved wider audience.
The letter from the USDoE is posted first (click on the images to enlarge), followed by Wagner’s return letter.
Ms. Ann Whalen
Senior Advisor to the Secretary of Education,
Delegated the Duties of the Assistant Secretary,
Office of Elementary and Secondary Education
United States Department of Education
Office of Elementary and Secondary Education
400 Maryland Ave., SW
Washington, DC 20202Dear Ms. Whelan,As a member of the State of Ohio Board of Education I seek your comment and advice. This letter is not written on behalf of the Ohio Department of Education or the State Board of Education, but individually as a person with an important interest in the laws and State School Board Member Dismantles Federal “Reminder” On Standardized Testing: