On Nov. 18, 2019, the Belleville Board of education adopted a resolution in favor of diminishing the role of testing in student evaluation. Your Board of Education can adopt this resolution to send a powerful message to the State Board of Education that our students mean more than test scores:
Agenda Item Details
Meeting
Nov 18, 2019 – REGULAR MEETING
Category
Resolution – Board Action/Board Policy
Subject
Resolution regarding Standardized Testing
Type
Action
Recommended Action
The Belleville Board of Education approves the following resolution in favor of the diminished role that standardized testing should play in evaluating students in the Belleville Public Schools District.
WHEREAS, the over-reliance on high-stakes standardized testing in district, state, and federal accountability systems is undermining educational quality and equity in U.S. public schools by hampering educators’ efforts to focus on the broad range of learning experiences that promote the innovation, creativity, problem solving, collaboration, communication, critical thinking and deep subject-matter knowledge that will allow students to thrive in a democracy and an increasingly global society and economy,
WHEREAS, the over-emphasis on standardized testing has caused considerable collateral damage in too many schools, including narrowing the curriculum, teaching to the test, reducing love of learning, reducing instructional time, pushing students out of school, driving excellent teachers out of the profession, and undermining school climate,
WHEREAS, students, parents, teachers, and administrators in New Jersey have been witness to a turnover in state testing administrations over the past 5 years, including NJASK, PARCC, and NJSLA, making it difficult to follow district and individual student progress and data due to the multiple transition periods caused by the change in assessments,
WHEREAS, increasing numbers of parents, educators, and school districts are voicing concerns about the over-emphasis and over-abundance of standardized tests,
WHEREAS, high-stakes standardized testing has negative effects for students from all backgrounds,
THEREFORE, let it be resolved that the Belleville Board of Education commits to working with educators to reduce the volume of standardized tests that students must take and to reduce the time educators and students spend on meaningless test preparation drills,
Let it also be resolved that the Belleville Board of Education commits to working with educators and other stakeholders to reexamine public school accountability systems in the Belleville Public Schools District and the state of New Jersey, and to develop a system based on multiple forms of assessment that do not require extensive standardized testing, more accurately reflects the broad range of student learning, and is used to support students and improve schools,
Let it also be resolved that the Belleville Board of Education shall promulgate any necessary policies, procedures and guidelines to implement this resolution, and hereby directs the Board Secretary to deliver this resolution to all local and state members of the legislature, the appropriate members of the State Board of Education, and the Commissioner of Education.
Motion & Voting
The Belleville Board of Education approves the following resolution in favor of the diminished role that standardized testing should play in evaluating students in the Belleville Public Schools District.