North Bellmore BOE Protests State-Mandated Assessment Testing

The North Bellmore Board of Education passed a resolution Thursday protesting upcoming state-mandated assessment testing for school districts, including the adoption of the Common Core learning standards.

Board President Jo Ann De Lauter stated that an over-reliance on state and federal standardized testing has hampered educator’s efforts, narrowed curriculums, undermined school climate, and called the testing “inadequate and often unreliable measure of both student learning and educator effectiveness.”

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De Lauter also noted that, as of 2014, New York State is mandating that assessment testing be completely computerized, and the cost for school districts to upgrade to adhere to this mandate is typically equal to five percent of their respective budgets. This cost comes without any financial assistance from the state.

“The North Bellmore school district calls upon Governor Cuomo, the State Legislature and the Board of Regents to re-examine public school accountability systems,” De Lauter said. “They should develop multiple forms of assessment that does not rely on standardized testing that more accurately reflects the broad range of student learning and is used to support students and approve schools.”

“We also call upon Congress to overhaul the No Child Left Behind Act, reduce testing mandates, and promote multiple forms of evidence of student learning and school quality and accountability,” she added.