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New FutureEd Report Shines Light on the Importance of Annual Assessments

On April 21, 2020, Jim Cowen, Executive Director of the Collaborative for Student Success, released the following statement. 

A new report by FutureEd at Georgetown University reinforces the value teachers, civil rights organizations, and the overall public place on statewide assessments. The report is very clear:

‘…the foundational argument for statewide testing—that the absence of objective insights into school performance leaves traditionally underserved students vulnerable—is no less valid today than at the outset of the school reform movement.’

We agree that assessments provide critical information to educators and help ensure that equity and fairness go hand in hand with academic achievement. In fact, researchers rightly noted in the report that while there has been a movement in some states to move away from testing, most of that legislation has nothing to do with statewide summative tests.

More than half the test-reduction legislation involved at least some social studies tests or high school exams in social sciences such as history – subjects not requiring federally mandated tests. Similarly, half the legislation has targeted high school end-of course tests. Researchers also noted that studies have shown that the average classroom spends just about 2% of instructional time taking mandated tests.

Because of school closures tied to the COVID-19 pandemic, the U.S. Department of Education took the reasonable step of providing testing waivers to every state. In no way does that lessen the value of statewide assessments to educators and others now or in the future. Arguably, assessment data will be more valuable than ever before as we attempt to “recover” from the impact of this epidemic in schools nationwide.

While statewide assessments may evolve – the role they play and the information provided in helping educators and policymakers at the state, district, and school levels know how well schools are serving every student need to be fiercely protected.

 

About the Collaborative for Student Success

At our core, we believe leaders at all levels have a role to play in ensuring success for K-12 students. From ensuring schools and teachers are equipped with the best materials to spotlighting the innovative and bold ways federal recovery dollars are being used to drive needed changes, the Collaborative for Student Success aims to inform and amplify policies making a difference for students and families.

To recover from the most disruptive event in the history of American public schools, states and districts are leveraging unprecedented resources to make sure classrooms are safe for learning, providing students and teachers with the high-quality instructional materials they deserve, and are rethinking how best to measure learning so supports are targeted where they’re needed most. 

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