Abinanti Urges Regents to Reject More Mandatory Tests for New York Students

Assemblyman Tom Abinanti (D-Greenburgh/Mt. Pleasant) today urged the Board of Regents to reject a proposal to require New York schools to administer stand-alone field tests.

“Forcing schools to administer field tests is an unwarranted interference in the structuring of school curriculum,” said Abinanti in a letter to the Board of Regents. “We should not undermine the education of our students so that private companies can make even more money from testing.”

The Department of Education recently released a memo offering the proposal to be discussed at the November 2014 Board of Regents meeting. The DOE’s proposal comes amidst parental concerns about over-testing students in New York. Currently, administering field tests is optional for school districts.

“The recent dramatic increase in testing time in New York has already negatively impacted students,” said Abinanti in his letter. “Whether students should take additional practice tests is a decision that should be in the purview of each individual school district.”