<html><head><meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html charset=utf-8"></head><body style="word-wrap: break-word; -webkit-nbsp-mode: space; -webkit-line-break: after-white-space;" class=""><div class="">TNS Families,</div><div class=""><br class=""></div>There has been a lot of confusion this year about whether the scores from the 3-5 grade state English (ELA) and math tests will impact our teachers' evaluations. The short answer is: they will, even though Cuomo announced that there’s a “moratorium” on the use of test scores in the teacher evaluation process. <div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">NYC OPT put together a concise summary of this issue, which I have pasted below, along with a link to the document. If you have any questions about this, or about testing in general, please feel free to reach out to me or any member of the Advocacy Committee (you will see them in the lobby tomorrow and in the weeks ahead, handing out information and Opt Out letters) and we will do my best to get you the information you need. Also, please attend the meeting next Wednesday (3/23) to hear about the school’s testing philosophy and to get answers to your questions!</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><section class="column-1 grid-left-0 column grid-width-16">
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<div class="loop"><article id="post-448" class="hentry type-page post-448 page status-publish author-arneddd" itemscope="" itemtype="http://schema.org/CreativeWork"><header class=""><h1 class="entry-title" itemprop="headline">"MYTH: A new moratorium solves the teacher-evaluation problem</h1></header><div class="entry-content" itemprop="text"><p class="">Fact:
A task force appointed by Cuomo has recommended that the state
temporarily suspend using the state tests to evaluate teachers because
the tests are flawed and need to be overhauled. So, for the next few
years (through spring 2018) scores on the state tests will not be
calculated into the teachers’ ratings. Sound good? Guess again. Students
will now have to take an ADDITIONAL standardized test (on top of the
state tests) for the sole purpose of rating their teachers.</p><p class="">In this interrim period, state officials will be creating new state
tests, using new learning standards, and a new vendor – a corporation
called Questar will be replacing Pearson. Those <a href="http://m.timesunion.com/local/article/Regents-plan-new-timeline-for-revising-Common-Core-6847525.php" class="">new tests are slated to be used in 2019</a>.</p><p class="">Even though state officials have admitted that the current state
tests are problematic, students are still expected to take them. And
teachers will continue to receive a growth score based on their
students’ results; a score that — while not officially part of their
teacher rating — can nonetheless be <a href="https://rankandfilenewyork.wordpress.com/" class="">used to fire teachers deemed “ineffective”</a> and to place low-performing schools into receivership.</p><p class="">Still confused about what this moratorium means? You’re not alone.
But perhaps the most important point to remember is that state law
requires half of a teachers’ rating to be based on standardized test
scores. Unless that law is changed, high-stakes testing will continue,
business as usual."</p><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">To see entire fact sheet go to <a href="http://www.optoutnyc.com/test-info/myths-and-facts/" class="">http://www.optoutnyc.com/test-info/myths-and-facts/</a></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Best,</div><div class=""><br class=""></div><div class="">Rachel Birdsall</div><div class="">TNS Advocacy Committee </div><div class="">(& Hugo’s mom) </div>
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