Wantagh Passes Resolution on High Stakes Testing

The Wantagh School district has passed a resolution asking state leaders to scrap it's program on assessing students, saying it relies too much on on testing.

"The Wantagh School District believes that the current focus on standardized test scores and the amount of time spent on testing negatively impact our students’ educational experience," the resolution, which was passed unanimously read in part. "The new assessments generate more opportunity for anxiety than growth."

The move came last week after several parents expressed concern over the new Common Core Learning Standards' emphasis on testing. 

"They're asking children to think in ways they're not developmentally ready for," one parent said.

The Wantagh resolution, which is similar to resolutions passed throughout Long Island and New York State calls on, "the Commissioner of Education, the New York State Board of Regents, the Governor, and the New York State Legislature to all work together to suspend the current system of student assessment."

It also asked Education Commissioner John King to "involve all stakeholders in the development of a revised, research based, age-appropriate assessment program with a well-conceived timeline."  The school board also asked that the current assessment system not be tied to teacher evaluation until a new system is in place.

In a statement, School Board president Michael Southout said that while  the board supports a rigorous curriculum with a testing component, there were concerns, "regarding the way in which the most recent state assessments were prematurely introduced without first allowing for the necessary professional development and sufficient instruction required to effectively introduce a new curriculum and assess student proficiency."