Miami-Dade Superintendent: Pause New Testing, School Grades

Submitted by Anonymous on September 4, 2014 - 11:33am

Miami-Dade Superintendent Alberto Carvalho wants the Florida Department of Education to temporarily pause testing and school grades for one year while students and teachers adjust to Common Core.

In an op-ed published Wednesday, Carvalho wrote:"Rapid changes to the accountability system, with no consideration for the impact of multiple adjustments, have left the public confused about students true performance.Meanwhile, educators are concerned, doubtful and skeptical about both policy and its quick roll-out. The recent disconnect between sinking school-grade performance and improved student outcomes has only added to the confusion and heartbreak."

Testing has become a hot issue in recent weeks, with some school districts saying they want to opt out of standardized tests entirely. Carvalho does not, however, advocate for the elimination of testing.

Carvalho urged ensuring Florida's new test is valid and reliable and also advocated to remove penalties for school grades for two years.

"There is a high moral imperative at play that, if not addressed, will define not only who we are, but also what we value, how we tackle challenges when we know better and how we value our children and those who teach them," he wrote. "And as we, the adults, consider, debate, argue and, unfortunately, sometimes disrespect each other in this process, we should not ignore the fact that our children are watching us and shouldnt be confused by our confusing ways."

Comments are now closed.