Obama Administration Calls for Limits on Testing in Schools.

[elleng]

'Faced with mounting and bipartisan opposition to increased and often high-stakes testing in the nation’s public schools, the Obama administration declared Saturday that the push had gone too far, acknowledged its own role in the proliferation of tests, and urged schools to step back and make exams less onerous and more purposeful.

Specifically, the administration called for a cap on assessment so that no child would spend more than 2 percent of classroom instruction time taking tests. It called on Congress to “reduce over-testing” as it reauthorizes the federal legislation governing the nation’s public elementary and secondary schools.

Education Secretary Arne Duncan on Friday with President Obama and Mr. Obama’s choice to replace him, John B. King Jr., left.Arne Duncan, Education Secretary, to Step Down in DecemberOCT. 2, 2015
“I still have no question that we need to check at least once a year to make sure our kids are on track or identify areas where they need support,” said Arne Duncan, the secretary of education, who has said he will leave office in December. “But I can’t tell you how many conversations I’m in with educators who are understandably stressed and concerned about an overemphasis on testing in some places and how much time testing and test prep are taking from instruction.”

“It’s important that we’re all honest with ourselves,” he continued.' ((NO SHIT, SHERLOCK! 6+++ wasted years! ))

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/10/25/us/obama-administration-calls-for-limits-on-testing-in-schools.html?

[villager]

1. I get to visit schools sometimes in "children's author mode," and talk "over-testing" in the q&a

...Usually this comes with questions like "how did you get to be a writer?," etc.

I explain that when I was in school, we weren't always just getting ready for a test -- we had time to imagine things, practice them, etc....

"You guys are taking too many tests," I usually say. "Maybe your teachers can't tell you that, but I can!"

I will usually get a lot of teacher nods around the room when I say that...

[bluestateguy]

2. This is welcome

That said, my child will take no tests and will be opted out on test days.

[elleng]

3. As you and your child should do.

Thanks.