Randi calls for moratorium on consequences of high-stakes testing associated with the Common Core

[proud2BlibKansan]

This morning I addressed a group called the Association for a Better New York and spoke about the Common Core State Standards for math and English language arts that have been adopted by 45 states and the District of Columbia. I predicted these standards will result in one of two outcomes: They will lead to a revolution in teaching and learning, or end up in the dustbin of abandoned reforms. Educators want these standards to succeed—we know; we’ve asked them. But, in order for that to happen, we must have a chance to implement them before someone starts assessing how they’re working.

So today I called for a moratorium on the consequences of high-stakes testing associated with the Common Core standards until states and districts have worked with educators to properly implement them. Stand with me.

We are committed to the success of getting the transition to Common Core right. To do that, we must help teachers and students master this new approach and not waste time punishing people for not doing something they haven’t yet been equipped to do. Can you imagine doctors being expected to perform a new medical procedure without being trained or provided the necessary instruments? That’s what is happening right now with the Common Core.

We have the ability to transform the very DNA of teaching and learning, to move away from rote memorization and endless test taking, and toward problem solving, critical thinking and teamwork—things I know we have been advocating for years. It’s kind of amazing that we have to call on states and districts to implement the Common Core State Standards before making the new assessments count. But that’s what we’re doing.

Send a message to Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and your state education commissioner: When states and districts get the alignment right—which will require moving from standards to curriculum to field testing to revising—success will follow. But, until then, a moratorium on the stakes is the only sensible course.

Making changes without anything close to adequate preparation is a failure of leadership, a sign of a broken accountability system and, worse, an abdication of our moral responsibility to the kids we serve. The Common Core standards have the potential to be a once-in-a-generation revolution in education, but there must be a tangible commitment from leadership that says very clearly, “We support you, and the Common Core, and these are the concrete steps we are going to take to help you and them succeed.”

Stand with me, because if we are able to put our foot on the accelerator of high-quality implementation, and put the brakes on the stakes, we can take advantage of this opportunity and guarantee that stronger standards lead to higher achievement for all children. Help me send that message.

In unity,
Randi Weingarten
AFT President

[hedda_foil]

1. Good for Randi.

[HiPointDem]

2. and as usual, it's just meaningless bullshit for the rubes who still don't know the score.

You can call for a moratorium on teacher evaluations and school closures tied to Common Core tests all you want. David Coleman and Merryl Tisch can sit in the audience and hear your entirely reasoned argument. They're not going to put a moratorium on anything here in NY State.

Both the governor and the NYSED Commissioner want every school district in the state to use the APPR evaluation system to fire teachers next year. They told us that last week when they warned Buffalo about a memorandum of understanding between the district and the union that no teachers would be fired using APPR the first year because it is untested and unpiloted. Buffalo has since rescinded that agreement under threat of losing RttT and Title 1 money.

And Merryl Tisch and John King both said after your speech that there will be no moratorium in NY State from APPR. They say they've taken all potential problems into account, so teachers in NY State will be fired using the new teacher evaluation system based upon Common Core tests.

Thanks for the free coffee and donuts at the speech though, Randi. They were swell. And I know you just loved getting all the attention you got today for this speech, you attention hound you. But nothing will happen as a result of this speech. The powers that be in NY State have told us so already. The firings based on Common Core commence next year.

Comments:

AnonymousApril 30, 2013 at 5:24 PM

"Whinegarten" is such a tool. She AGREED to all of this crap to begin with. Now she is against it? What a lame o'.

reality-based educatorApril 30, 2013 at 5:26 PM

Yup - Iannuzzi pulled the same bait and switch. They stood on stage and applauded this, now they're shocked when the increased standards are shoved down everyone's throat in one year, without preparation, and careers and reputations will be ruined as a result.

She must be feeling the heat from down below a little. This was WWE wrestling crap to make it look like she's fighting the good fight. Then she got into the limo with Tisch and Coleman and they all rode off laughing together...

AnonymousApril 30, 2013 at 5:54 PM

Weingarten is the mother of UFT doublethink and doublespeak. It is for her to say what she thinks the the naive idiocracy needs to hear, but to do the bidding of the plutocracy, since Tisch, Pearson, Bloomberg and Gates will endow her future with favors, ka-Ching moolah and access to the powerful politicians at the Washington politburo. Mulgrew is the father of doublespeak, and well connected with his friends at TWEED. No one, but no one beliefs the bullshit crap that spews out of their mouths. They are moles.

http://perdidostreetschool.blogspot.com/2013/04/note-to-randi-on-her-moratorium-call.html

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. It's a step.

Should have happened a long time ago but at least she's (finally) speaking out.

Let's hope the NEA president makes a similar statement soon.

[HiPointDem]

5. it's not a step. it's a statement. it accomplishes nothing. weingarten *already* made all the

concessions, now she wants a moratorium on the concessions she herself gave the other side.

she's a mole.

[duffyduff]

4. The only thing Weingarten can do that is meaningful is resign from AFT

She is a complete and total fraud.

[proud2BlibKansan]

6. Are you a member?