h:\doc\web\2003\07\neatest.txt
George Sheridan

So many things regarding assessment and ESEA happened at the NEA 
Representative Assembly that I'm going to report them in a series of emails 
rather than one giant missive.

Resolution B-57 on standardized testing of students was amended. This is 
NEA's statement of belief, and any action or legislative proposal related 
to testing are must be based on this policy.

The policy is fairly long and sets forth the conditions necessary for 
standardized testing to support quality education and the conditions under 
which the Association opposes the use of standardized tests. Before this 
year it did not contain a statement that standardized tests are of limited 
value in any case. Now it does.

The first three sentences of the resolution are now:

The National Education Association believes that standardized tests and/or 
assessments should be used only to improve the quality of education and 
instruction for students. Standardized tests, whether norm-, criterion-, or 
standards-referenced, can validly assess only a limited range of student 
learning. Therefore, they should be only and adjunct or supplement to 
information obtained through school- and classroom-based assessment 
conducted by teachers for the purpose of supporting and strengthening 
instruction as well as for summarizing and evaluating student learning.

The second and third sentences are new. In addition, the Representative 
Assembly approved the addition of two lines to the section beginning, "The 
Association opposes the use of standardized tests and/or assessments 
when--" The new lines are:
...
m. Test preparation impedes or discourages learning, constrains the 
curriculum in ways that threaten the quality of teaching and learning for 
students, or limits and/or curtails future educational opportunities of 
learners
n. Scores are used to track students.

George Sheridan

It's hard to be activist, but it's also very rewarding to feel that you are 
part of the active citizenry who dare to attempt to change the world. In 
attempting to effect change, you have all other like-minded individuals who 
will carry on with the struggle, generation after generation.

Abolition, independence, universal suffrage, gay-lesbian movements, 
etc.--they all took decades and even centuries and the world of 1776 has 
been changed to something which is totally unrecognizable in a little over 
200 years! History is on the side of those who try to change.

We may be fighting the uphill battle, but surely not a losing one.

         - Zarni, founder of the Free Burma Coalition