A recent article in the Washington Post (October27) by Valerie Strauss, “Virginia school boards pass anti-SOL resolutions” takes the issues that our own local divisions have to a new level of attention. With nearly 30 of the 130 school boards producing resolutions requesting that the SOL testing system be revamped, this article helps to highlight frustrations and concerns which have smoldered for several years. School administrators and central office staff are still looking for changes and relief with resolutions that all say that “the Standards of Learning are not good measures of how well students, teachers and schools are actually doing and that there is little evidence that the practice of using student test scores to evaluate teachers and principals has any validity.”
Included in the Post article is a copy of a resolution passed by York County”s school board that reflects the concerns of other Virginia school boards:
RESOLUTION CONCERNING HIGH STAKES, STANDARDIZED TESTING OF VIRGINIA PUBLIC SCHOOL STUDENTS
WHEREAS, the state and federal accountability system’s over reliance on high stakes testing as the only meaningful measurement of school quality continues to strangle public schools and undermines educators’ ability to transform a traditional system of schooling into a broad range of learning experiences that better prepares our students to live successfully and be globally competitive; and
WHEREAS, scant research exists to support Virginia’s assumption that students will be better prepared to succeed in college or in their careers by taking and passing thirty-four criterion referenced tests in grades three through 11; and
WHEREAS, we believe the Commonwealth’s prosperity is dependent upon a meaningful and relevant education system of high quality, and without such a system Virginia’s economic competitiveness and ability to attract new business will falter; and
WHEREAS, there is insufficient evidence and limited research supporting the conversion of criterion referenced measures into student growth measures as authentic indicators of student achievement; and
WHEREAS, there is insufficient evidence and limited research supporting the use of student growth measures as an indicator of teacher, principal and superintendent effectiveness; and
WHEREAS, Virginia’s system of measuring teacher, principal, superintendent and school accountability at both the state and federal level is based on a flawed methodology that penalizes otherwise high performing schools and lacks any rational research foundation; and
WHEREAS, the work of creating more engaging student learning experiences requires changes in the culture and structure of the systems in which teachers and students work; and
WHEREAS, student centered learning should be the focus in the classroom and result in deep and meaningful understanding, as opposed to a broad yet shallow overemphasis on that which may be easily measured by standardized assessments; and
WHEREAS, we believe that a balanced system of assessments providing a more comprehensive measure of student learning and growth is far better in describing student achievement than annual criterion referenced tests; and
WHEREAS, our vision for students is to be engaged in meaningful and relevant learning that cultivates individual talents, afford option s to meet the unique needs of students, and to recognize that students can be both consumers and creators of knowledge; and
WHEREAS, only by developing new capacities and conditions in Virginia’s divisions and schools, and within the communities they serve, will we ensure that learning is a product of innovation, creativity, collaboration, communication and critical thinking; and
WHEREAS, these are the very skills and attitudes essential to the survival of our democracy, and that business leaders desire; and
WHEREAS, we expect to be held accountable for the performance of our public schools and proudly promote the outstanding education we provide our students, but we believe the current system of accountability through seemingly endless performance testing dominates instructional time, limits precious resources available to our schools and impedes our ability to prepare our students to compete against others on a world-wide basis.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the School Board of York County, Virginia, calls on the Virginia General Assembly to reexamine Virginia public school assessments and the system of accountability for which they form the basis and to improve the current accountability system so that it encompasses balanced assessments, reflects greater validity, uses more cost efficient sampling techniques and other external evaluation arrangements, allows for expedited test retakes, and more accurately reflects what students know, appreciate and can do in terms of the rigorous standards essential to their success, enhances the role of teachers as designers, guides to instruction and leaders, and nurtures the sense of inquiry and love of learning in all students.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE School Board of York County, Virginia calls on its Superintendent, principals, teachers and others staff members to help students master the content and skills of the curriculum by continuing to promote the joy of teaching and learning with a focus on deep, meaningful, transformative learning, rather than an over-emphasis on just covering content that can be easily assessed by standardized tests
The list of school boards that have passed this or a similar resolution in Virginia include:
Albemarle County
Appomattox County
Bristol City
Charlottesville City
Clarke County
Colonial Heights
Covington City
Cumberland County
Fauquier County
Frederick County
Gloucester County
Greensville/Emporia
Halifax City
King William County
Middlesex County
New Kent County
Prince Edward County
Prince William County
Rappahannock County
Richmond County
Salem City
Scott County
Smyth County
Staunton City
Tazewell County
Westmoreland County
Williamsburg/James City
York County
Is your school board in this list?
You may access the complete article at: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/10/27/virginia-schools-boards-pass-anti-sol-resolutions/
