A New York state test report may describe a student as “proficient,” but that word has a narrower meaning than many families assume. It does not mean a child…
Frequent standardized testing can reduce instructional time, increase student anxiety, and narrow the learning experience. If families and educators believe…
The debate over the Common Core State Standards is also a debate about how schools collect, connect, and use information about children. Standards describe…
New York families can use the New York State Education Department’s public data tools to examine test results, enrollment patterns, graduation rates, and other…
Across New York, some districts and individual public schools are reconsidering whether a single timed test can accurately measure what students know. Their…
A testing conflict can be difficult for families to spot because school calendars, district assessment plans, state examinations, and classroom tests may…
The New York State English as a Second Language Achievement Test, commonly called the NYSESLAT, measures how well a student who is learning English can…
For many New York families, elementary homework changed noticeably during the Common Core era. Assignments became more closely connected to grade-level…
Test anxiety can affect sleep, concentration, attendance, confidence, and a child’s willingness to participate in school. A counselor can help families…
The opt-out movement has gained support from both conservative and liberal parents because standardized testing has become a point of shared concern. Families…