Testing

April 19, 2021

Actionline

MSEA and NEA Pull No Punches in the Pandemic Testing Debate

Saying No to Testing MSEA came out strong and early for maximum relief and flexibility for state standardized testing through the U.S. Department of Education’s waiver process. In public comments to the State Board of Education (SBOE) on February 23, MSEA President Cheryl Bost delivered a strongly worded statement about the fairness and sanity of […]

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An Open Letter to USDE and State Governments from NEA President Becky Pringle

American students are still navigating the most difficult year of learning in modern history. The last thing they need is to be forced to take a stressful test that will not be an effective barometer of their needs and accomplishments. American students are still navigating the most difficult year of learning in modern history. Between […]

School Funding|Testing

Newsroom

As Session Nears End, Progress on Equity, Testing, and More

THIS WEEK IN ANNAPOLIS Blueprint Companion Bill Shapes Up with Amendments The Blueprint for Maryland’s Future’s companion bill, HB 1372, is making rapid progress towards the legislative finish line. The Senate’s swift adoption Thursday of amendments to the bill on its second reading indicates that final passage is near, likely with a veto-proof majority. Given […]

Coronavirus and Schools|Testing

Newsroom

Legislation Heard to Protect Accommodations, Job Security for Educators

THIS WEEK IN ANNAPOLIS Legislation Heard on Educator Accommodations, Job Security, Safe Working Conditions As the coronavirus pandemic in Maryland enters its second year this week, educators need and deserve adequate job and health protections. In HB 1322, sponsored by Del. Alonzo Washington (D-22) and supported by MSEA, educators would avoid having to choose between […]

Press Room

MSEA Applauds State Board Action to Reduce Testing

Baltimore County elementary school teacher and MSEA President Cheryl Bost released the following statement in reaction to the State Board of Education’s action on March 4, 2021 to seek a testing waiver: “We applaud the department and State Board for rethinking their original decision and instead seeking a waiver to spend less time on standardized […]

Newsroom

MSEA Calls for Less Testing, More Instructional Time

THIS WEEK IN ANNAPOLIS MSEA Advocates for Reduction in Mandated Spring Standardized Testing This week MSEA has been fighting for students and educators—who have enough stress navigating the myriad unique demands of education during the pandemic—to be given as much grace as possible from high-stakes standardized tests. In public comment Tuesday to the Maryland State […]

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Defending Public Schools

In the next few months, you’ll be hearing and reading a lot from MSEA and your local about the need to defend the teaching profession and raise our voices for strong schools. With the Kirwan Commission — that’s the Commission for Innovation and Excellence in Education — making its final recommendations for a wholly revamped education funding formula to […]

Latest Updates

PARCC Is Going Away. What’s Next?

Photo from Flickr. The news is out: Maryland is replacing the PARCC test with a new state standardized test, to be launched in the 2019–2020 school year. While PARCC’s problems are well documented, much about the new test is still unknown. So what’s next? PARCC May Be Going Away, But Standardized Testing Isn’t Annual standardized testing in […]

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Maryland Wins Big on ESSA Thanks to the Protect Our Schools Act

Photo © Stephen Cherry In September, the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) submitted our state’s Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) plan for federal approval. The U.S. Department of Education (USDE) replied in December with a list of plan provisions that in their judgment did not comply with ESSA. The Protect Our Schools Act — passed last year […]

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