Public debate often treats the Common Core and standardized testing as if they were the same policy. They are connected, but they serve different purposes.…
New York’s debate over Common Core testing was never limited to whether students could answer harder questions. Parents, educators, and local advocates also…
Families who oppose excessive standardized testing often find that local support makes the process clearer and less isolating. A nearby parent network can…
Field trips, music programs, art workshops, science clubs, and hands-on projects give students ways to connect classroom learning with the wider world. In New…
Families often want schools to recognize learning in ways that go beyond a single score or timed exam. A thoughtful conversation with a teacher can open space…
School libraries have always served several purposes at once: they support classroom assignments, encourage independent reading, preserve cultural knowledge,…
A benchmark test is usually an interim assessment given during the school year to measure progress toward grade-level standards. It may be created by the…
Parents often hear “assessment” used as if it means one specific test. In New York, however, a state assessment and a local assessment can serve different…
Testing policy affects nearly every part of public education, from classroom instruction and special education services to school funding and student privacy.…
New York’s annual “School Report Card” can reveal much more than a single test score. It brings together information about enrollment, attendance, academic…