Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District

High Stakes Testing Resolution, passed December 4, 2013

WHEREAS, the goal of the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District is to provide our students with instructional initiatives that enable them to become independent, life-long learners within a nurturing atmosphere that promotes core values such as dedication, respect, integrity, dignity, teamwork and trust, and where all students are encouraged to explore, question, problem-solve and process information using higher level thinking skills; and

WHEREAS, our nation’s and New York State’s future well-being relies on a high-quality public education system that prepares all students for college, careers, citizenship and life-long learning and strengthens the nation’s social and economic well-being; and

WHEREAS, the over reliance on high stakes standardized testing in state and federal accountability systems is undermining educational quality and equity in United States public schools by hampering educators’ efforts to focus on the broad range of learning experiences that promote the innovation, creativity, problem-solving, collaboration, communication, critical thinking and deep-subject matter knowledge that will allow students to thrive in a democracy and an increasingly global society and economy; and

WHEREAS, the current high stakes testing is widely recognized as an unreliable measure of both student learning and educator effectiveness and it has negative effects for students from all backgrounds, and especially for low-income students, English Language Learners and those with disabilities; and

WHEREAS, federal and state funding sources do not adequately address the significant costs associated with the implementation of the new Annual Professional Performance Review (APPR), Common Core Learning Standards and the technological needs required to build capacity for the future advent of computer-based statewide high stakes testing; and

WHEREAS, the assessment of student learning is an integral part of the educational experience and should be consistent with standards set for student learning.  Testing of any kind should not dominate instructional time nor narrow the focus of student learning;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Bellmore Merrick Central High School District calls on Governor Cuomo, Commissioner King, the State legislature and the Board of Regents to re-examine public school accountability systems in the state, including APPR, to involve all stakeholders in the development of a research-based, age appropriate system which is based on multiple forms of assessment, does not require extensive standardized testing, more accurately reflects the broad range of student learning, is implemented on a well thought out timeline and is used to support students and improve schools; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Bellmore Merrick Central High School District calls on the President of the United States of America and the United States Congress to overhaul the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (“No Child Left Behind”), reduce the testing mandates, not mandate any fixed role for the use of student test scores in evaluating educators and promote multiple forms of evidence of student learning and school quality in accountability.