Blog

TitleDateExcerpt
How to Write to New York’s Education Commissioner About Testing ConcernsParents, educators, and students have a meaningful way to raise concerns about standardized testing in New York: a clear, evidence-based letter to the New York…
How Standardized Tests Shape Kindergarten ReadinessKindergarten readiness assessments are meant to help educators understand how children are developing before or shortly after they enter school. They may…
How to find out whether test scores affect teacher evaluationsParents often hear that standardized tests are used to judge teachers, but the process is less direct than that statement suggests. In New York, teacher…
A parent’s guide to close reading under Common Core“Close reading” became a familiar phrase when the Common Core State Standards reshaped English language arts instruction in New York. The approach asks…
Challenging Anti-Opt-Out Policies In New York School DistrictsSome New York school districts have adopted policies that discourage, restrict, or stigmatize families who refuse state standardized tests. These rules may…
How parents can use NYSSBA resources effectivelyParents often encounter school governance through a board meeting, a budget vote, a testing dispute, or a policy change. The New York State School Boards…
How High Stakes Testing Can Feed the School To Prison PipelineHigh-stakes exams are often presented as neutral measures of student achievement. In practice, the consequences attached to test scores can shape school…
Teaching Your Child About the Right to Refuse a TestStandardized tests can feel intimidating, especially when children believe their score defines their intelligence or determines how adults see them. A calm,…
Pearson Scoring Errors And New York State Test ResultsWhen a standardized test is scored incorrectly, the consequences can reach far beyond a number on a report. Families may receive misleading information about a…
How to organize a bus trip to an Albany rally for local controlA well-organized bus trip can turn scattered concern into visible public action. When parents, teachers, students, and community members travel together to an…
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