It looks like Governor Deval Patrick is serious about reforming MCAS. Today he appointed Ruth Kaplan, an outspoken MCAS critic, to the state Board of Education.
Kaplan, a member of the Brookline School Committee since 2003, will serve as the designated parent teacher association representative on the board. In 2003, Kaplan championed a resolution approved by the Massachusetts Association of School Committees, calling for a suspension of the MCAS graduation requirement.
There are at least a couple of ways to make MCAS more effective: 1) add in additional assessments like portfolios 2) create a test that provides feedback useful for instruction.
Mark
Please share widely!
This, above all of his policy announcements, is evidence that Governor Patrick is sincere in his effort to take a real look at how to improve education in Massachusetts.
Mark,
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You’re doing a great job keeping us all up-to-date on these developments. Thanks for sharing all this information and keeping it in the headlines. I can tell you that many teachers in one certain school are a lot more knowledgeable — and a lot more optimistic — about possibilities in the future of education thanks to the news you’re bringing to our attention.
This is a good opportunity for some intelligent thinking and dialog relative to “high stakes” testing. I support high expectations and standards with tools to accompany the tasks. The hardship and heartache that MCAS has rendered to many individuals and families with special needs is a sad chapter in public education in the Commonwealth. As an educator and parent, I hope that these issues will be included in the upcoming reforms. Additionally, I hope the pencils will be sharp in comparing graduation rates in the future when MCAS is eliminated as the guillotine for many teens in Massachusetts.
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A non sequitur just for fun – hope you saw the Daily Show with Jon Stewart tonight as he roasted the 10 (R’s) in New Hampshire. Wait ’til you hear Stewart dis Romney! Priceless.
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[http://www.comedycen…]
It was an exercise in futility.Like the SAT’s it is racist and sexist.
This runs counter to the MCRD I know. This is satire, right?
I did great the on the first try(got the a Adams scholarship, ha). All but one of my friends passed it (and they were none too bright) and the one that failed passed the second time…you get like 5 tries…honestly.
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As someone who can speak about this from the point of view of someone who experienced it, it really wasn’t that bad. Mayhaps people who continue to fail it shouldn’t get their diploma. Mayhaps this is a way to find people who just kept getting promoted in grades without earning it.
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But seriously, why is the test so flawed? Shouldn’t we have very high expectations for our graduates if we expect them to compete in what’s becoming a world market?
Standards are good: they help learning.
I think a point missing from the headlines should be emphasized here:
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There hasn’t been a parent representative on the board up till now. The governor is supposed to pick among three nominees made by the Mass PTA, but Romney simply left the position unfilled rather than appoint someone who would bring a different point of view onto the board.
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It should be fairly interesting to see Kaplan and Romney’s last Board of Ed appointee, Sandra Stotsky, sitting on the same board. Stotsky is competent, but at least as opinionated as Kaplan.
MCAS Open Response Question
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An elected official is supposed to balance “representing his constituents” (what they want) and pursuing what’s best (in the official’s opinion).
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In a 5-paragraph essay, please describe how a newly created “Parent Representative” to the Board of Ed should conduct herself.
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Should she simply voice her opinion, since she is indeed a parent? Does she have any obligation to understand and represent, in good faith, the majority of parents? As the sole parent representative, should she pursue her duties any differently from a “regular” appointee?
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Please cite specific issues where her own beliefs might not align with the majority of parents.
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For example, public opinion polls (pdf) show that popular support for MCAS as graduation requirement has been fairly steady in the range of 60% support, versus 35% oppose. How should Ms. Kaplan balance her opinion versus those of the majority?
take a poll of their constituency to decide what opinions to present to the Board of Ed?
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Currently, as far as I know, none of the board members represents an alternate point of view, and from speaking with someone who has tried to present a “whole child” approach to the board, it sounded to me like the current board has not been receptive to comments outside their narrow point of view.
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Presumably, the PTA did some research before selecting the three nominees they made for the position. Do you not believe the PTA represents parents, and considered parents input and interests when selecting their nominees?
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The governor has said he supports the MCAS graduation requirement, but he also campaigned on educating the “whole child”. Presumably, appointing a “whole child” advocate to the board – one out of eleven votes – will provide a chance to explore some alternatives without radically tipping the balance on board votes unless it turns out there are persuasive arguments in favor of a change.
People don’t know much about the test. If it doesn’t affect them, and common wisdom says standards, etc. are valuable, what do you think people are going to think. What’s surprising is that 40% of people disagree?
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Mark
Then nobody is allowed to ever cite public opinion data to support their argument. Poll shows most people favor withdrawal from Iraq? Too bad — they don’t know much about Iraq.
If 60% of Massachusetts citizens said we should go to war with Connecticut, then it’s a good idea? Popular support doesn’t justify the efficacy of a program. Popular support got us into Iraq; it didn’t mean going in was the right thing to do. Popular support wants us out, but clearly that isn’t going to happen any time soon.
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I can’t figure out if you twist what I say on purpose or by accident. You seem to be fond of false dichotomies, and I’m starting to think you’re a math teacher.
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Polls are very good at estimating how people feel and now pretty good at predicting how they will vote. They do very poorly at estimating depth of feeling. The link between the efficacy of a policy and the popular support requires is warranted.
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Question for the sake of politeness: Do you preferred to be called Goldstein, GGW, or what?
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Mark
“….I’m starting to think you’re a math teacher.”
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Touche. A 6 for that one.
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I don’t know, maybe we haven’t yet found our commenting “groove,” where we sort of go back and forth in a productive way.
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On my end, I think I make a relevant comment, and then see your reply as purposely avoiding my point, and twisting what I say…
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Maybe BMG 3.0 can have some sort of “refer for binding arbitration: who is twisting things?” button where Charley, Bob, or David weigh in….
As an elected official, Ruth has been well-informed, outspoken, and effective. The state PTA knew what they were asking for when they nominated Ruth Kaplan. Deval Patrick knew what he was getting when he appointed her.
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Ms. Kaplan should continue to do her homework, follow her conscience, and counteract the years of far-right appointees nominated by the Pioneer Institute.