Testing

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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Protecting ESSA from the State Board

Winning good policy outcomes isn’t just about passing laws; we need to make sure they are implemented faithfully, too. This summer, MSEA worked with leaders in the General Assembly, the attorney general’s office, school boards, civil rights organizations, and other pro-public education advocates to push back against the State Board of Education’s ESSA draft plan. […]

School Funding|Testing

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PARCC Scores Show Schools Are Underfunded

Today, the Maryland State Department of Education released Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) test results for the 2016-2017 school year. Maryland State Education Association President Betty Weller released the following statement: “This year’s PARCC scores are a reflection of the fact that our schools are underfunded. When you have class […]

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Maryland Legislation to Limit Testing in Schools Signed into Law

Today, Gov. Larry Hogan signed the unanimously-approved More Learning, Less Testing Act (SB452) into law. The legislation limits mandated testing to 2.2% of the year in Maryland public schools—or 23.8 hours in elementary and middle schools and 25.7 hours in high schools—except in eighth grade, where the limit is at 2.3% or 24.8 hours. Maryland […]

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What’s Next?

“This year, educators were extremely well informed and engaged on preventing privatization and reducing testing,” said Sean Johnson, MSEA’s chief lobbyist. “Our mobilization of partners like the PTA and civil rights groups, plus concerned community members, led to in-person and online activism that propelled the Protect Our Schools Act (POSA) and More Learning, Less Testing […]

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YOU DID IT!

It’s one of the biggest wins for public education in years — passage of the Protect Our Schools Act means Maryland is standing up to the Hogan/DeVos/Trump privatization agenda. There’s more: passage of the More Learning, Less Testing Act means educators will have time to nurture creativity and help students develop the higher-level critical thinking skills they […]

Latest Updates

Big Win #1: The Protect Our Schools Act

This session — thanks to the work of legislators and the advocacy of educators — Maryland became a national leader in standing up to the Betsy DeVos school privatization agenda and in turning the page on the damaging test-and-punish culture in favor of one that truly invests in and improves our schools. The Protect Our Schools Act […]

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Ask a Teacher: What Does the Protect Our Schools Act Mean to You?

Allison Heintz There’s a misconception that teachers are in favor of POSA because it gives more power to unions. This bill is about giving more power to local stakeholders, including what factors determine school success and how to deal with failing schools. Our governor has been vocal in supporting vouchers, and I’ve probably been one […]

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