Press Releases

"The Obama administration's call for limits on standardized testing is to be commended. It is estimated that America's public school students can expect to take more than 100 such tests between kindergarten and high school graduation. In Florida, some students in grades K-5 have taken 14 assessments in one year, while students in grades 6-12 have been subjected to as many as 23.

These are clearly signs of testing gone awry. Instead of developing critical thinking skills and creative expression, students are spending excessive amounts of classroom time on rote preparation for high-stakes tests that in some states play an oversized role in determining their academic futures and influence their teachers' evaluations. There is no question that tests are an important tool to identify a student's and a school's strengths and weaknesses and to help us close achievement gaps, but we must find that delicate balance between proper assessment and providing a well-rounded education.

"This year, Florida introduced a new assessment test that our school superintendents and parents agree was an unmitigated failure. I questioned and fought the introduction of the new Florida Standardized Assessment test in part because it is based on regional references and the curriculum taught in Utah. Given how students faced repeated technical glitches during testing, which prevented them from performing to the best of their abilities, there is no question that we must do away with FSA and its unreliable results.

"Alberto Carvalho, superintendent of the Miami-Dade County schools, agrees. He was among a group of teachers and representatives from various states and school districts who met today with President Obama, Education Secretary Arne Duncan, and incoming education secretary Dr. John King at the White House. Last year Alberto decommissioned 24 exams at the start of the school year, which restored about 260 minutes of teaching time. He and I are both believers that over-testing is bad for our students' mental and intellectual health."