Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Weds. Oct.12 - GEM High Stakes Testing Committee Working to Change the Stakes

"However, like the missile gap, the so-called learning gap is a myth.  The fear has been founded on misinformation and misperceptions.

Some have traced the root of all evil in the assault on public education as the misuse of testing - actually high stakes testing. In other words, no one is against the use of tests but the use of these narrow tests as sole judge of the success or failure of students. teachers, schools and school systems. We would also point to the awesome costs of not only the tests, but the prep materials and the entire monitoring apparatus. You can populate a small city with the accountability (everyone accountable but the people at the top) crew at Tweed - along with all the consultants.

GEM began a high stakes testing committee this past July and before long was partnering with other groups like Time Out for Testing, Class Size Matters and Parents Across America using the theme "It's Time to Change the Stakes." Getting the renowned Dr. Yong Zhao to speak at our event kicking off the campaign is a coup of the highest order. If you can make this you won't be disappointed. (I'm hoping Diane Ravitch shows up for this -  not far fetched as she is in town.)



Check out Norms Notes for a variety of articles of interest: http://normsnotes2.blogspot.com/. And make sure to check out the side panel on the right for important bits.

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