Monday, January 14, 2013

Schools Matter: FairTest Urges Nation to Join Seattle in Testing Boycott

Schools Matter: FairTest Urges Nation to Join Seattle in Testing Boycott:


FairTest Urges Nation to Join Seattle in Testing Boycott

NationalCenterfor Fair & Open Testing

for further information:

Dr. Monty Neill(617) 477-9792

Bob Schaeffer(239) 395-6773

for immediate release Monday, January 14, 2013

*NATIONAL ASSESSMENT REFORM LEADERS ENDORSE *

*SEATTLE TEACHERS' SCHOOL TEST BOYCOTT;*

*CALL FOR MORE EDUCATORS, PARENTS TO "JOIN IN"*

The country's leading testing reform organization today announced its support for the boycott of Seattle Public Schools' Measures of Academic Progress (MAP) exam launched by teachers at Garfield High School. National Center for Fair & Open Testing (FairTest) Executive Director Dr. Monty Neill said, "Children across the U.S. suffer from far too much standardized testing that is misused to judge students, teachers and schools. We applaud Garfield High educators who refused to administer these useless exams and urge others to join in."

Dr. Neill explained, "Seattle requires administration of the MAP tests three times per year. This eliminates days of valuable teaching time and ties up the school's computer labs for weeks. The tests are used to judge teachers even though they are not aligned with the state's standards and not instructionally helpful. The