Monty Neill's article, "A Child Is Not a Test Score:
Assessment as a Civil Rights Issue," from the Fall 2009 issue of Root and
Branch, is avaiable here.
The following principles are drawn from the report of the Expert Panel on Assessment of the Forum on Educational Accountability and represent a launching point from which conference discussions on what is necessary to construct high-quality assessment and accountability systems may begin.
1. Ensure all students have equitable and adequate access to the resources needed to succeed.
2. Construct comprehensive and coherent systems of state and local assessments of student learning that:
Materials from FairTest-National Education Association State Assessment Reform Conference
Transforming State Assessment Systems: Conference Materials
In May 2009, FairTest and the National Education Association held a conference on transforming state assessment systems. Materials from this conference include:
FairTest's Monty Neill presented invited testimony on graduation tests and alternatives to the Maryland Board of Education. The letter also appears attached at the bottom as a formatted PDF:
October 21, 2008
James DeGraffenreidt, Chair Members of the State Board of Education 200 West Baltimore Street Baltimore, MD 21201
Copies sent by regular mail and e-mail
Dear Chairman DeGraffenreidt and Members of the Maryland Board of Education,
Attributes of a School to Assess in a Review by Ron Berger
Physical Facilities:
Size
Location, Accessibility
Scope: Adequacy for All Purposes
Physical Condition and Repair
Cleanliness; Care of the Building
Attractiveness
Display of Student Work and Achievement in the Building
Level of Student Respect for the Physical Facilities
In a "get tough" environment in which we are seeing
an increase in the use of graduation and even grade-promotion
tests, more testing seems to be on the agenda. Yet the problems
with traditional testing have not gone away, Mr. Neill warns.
He suggests a better approach.