“In order to understand the concerns around overtesting, the commissioner is going to have to listen. He’s going to need to listen to students like Board of Education student representative Donald Willyard, who reported at the meeting that students at his school had already spent the better part of a week taking a practice test. He’ll need to listen to students as young as kindergartners who know that they dare not make noise at recess, or sing during music class, or applaud a classmate’s presentation during MCAS time. He’ll need to hear from students whose language abilities do not match their math abilities, yet who are assessed in a language not native to them. He’ll need to listen to students who have fewer field trips, less recess time, less developmentally appropriate activities, all due to the almighty MCAS.” Click here for full Worcester Telegram article.    → Read More

For information on the latest deep-pockets, out-of-state organization with a pro-charter school agenda to set up shop in Boston, joining Stand for Children and Democrats for Education Reform, read this new fact sheet from Citizens for Public Schools. Click here.   → Read More