LUPINACCI: TACKLE TEST ANXIETY IN NEW YORK CLASSROOMS

Assemblyman Chad A. Lupinacci (R,C,I – South Huntington) is urging members of the Common Core Task Force to closely analyze the findings of a new study which links high-stakes testing to excessive anxiety in students.

The announcement was made in a recent letter to Assemblywoman Catherine Nolan (D-Queens), who is the Education Committee Chairwoman and a member of the Common Core Task Force.

“As lawmakers, it’s our responsibility to take these studies seriously. New York State’s mental health experts have warned of the detrimental effects of Common Core testing. It is time we stop the state-sanctioned stress and make learning enjoyable and effective again,” Lupinacci said.

The letter contained a recent study, conducted by the New York Association of School Psychologists (NYASP) and the New York School Boards Association, which indicates a possible relationship between poor state test scores and high levels of anxiety in students.

The report, which is available at http://bit.ly/1lVK7db, shows an increase in state test-related symptoms such as irritability, aches and pains and nausea in younger students, while older students are showing signs of excessive withdrawal, headaches, stomachaches and insomnia.

“We must work together to ensure high-quality education is available for every student. To accomplish this goal, addressing the unsettling emerging trend of test anxiety is crucial,” Lupinacci said. “I am certain that Assemblywoman Nolan and the Common Core Task Force will share my concerns and consider them in their report.”

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