We wanted to pass on today’s Star Ledger editorial, which not only puts Montclair and our own PARCC participation rate front and center, but also showcases some very scary consequences and realities that we never heard during the General Comment period at our Board of Education meetings.
http://www.nj.com/opinion/index.ssf/2015/04/thanks_to_parcc_opt-outs_nj_schools_could_lose_big.html#incart_2box_opinion_index.ssf
Please note the following:
One conclusion is clear: While many acknowledge that the PARCC exam is not perfect, the vast majority in our State supports the new testing regime, including many of Montclair’s local neighbors with excellent school systems.
MKF has not yet formed a point of view on how we, as a community, should now address this issue, but we do believe that communicating, listening and sharing factual information with each other is the first step. That said, MKF supports the Montclair BoE Strategic Plan which included the use of the PARCC test to improve the quality of education delivered to our kids.
As the Star Ledger article mentions, NJ state officials will not ignore these results, and certainly a great deal of attention will be brought to bear on Montclair on this issue. There may also be financial ramifications to our recently approved budget. It is our hope that all of you will communicate your displeasure with these results and advocate that we move forward with positive programs for our kids to our Board of Education members. Their email addresses are:
David Deutsch: [email protected]
Anne Mernin: [email protected]
David Cummings: [email protected]
Jessica de Koninck: [email protected]
Robin Kulwin: [email protected]
Leslie Larson: [email protected]
Shelly Lombard: [email protected]
Since MKF is most focused on reviewing facts so we can make the best, most educated decisions for our kids, here are some more links that we hope might be helpful to you -
http://www.nj.com/education/2015/04/despite_opt-out_movement_most_nj_kids_took_parcc.html#incart_river
http://www.northjersey.com/news/n-j-releases-figures-on-opt-out-rates-for-new-state-tests-1.1309668
http://blogs.wsj.com/metropolis/2015/04/15/n-j-says-number-of-students-who-opted-out-of-tests-very-low/
http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/15/04/16/technology-earns-high-marks-in-first-round-of-online-testing/
http://observer.com/2015/04/weakening-standardized-tests-amounts-to-killing-the-messenger/
http://www.nj.com/opinion/index.ssf/2015/04/thanks_to_parcc_opt-outs_nj_schools_could_lose_big.html#incart_2box_opinion_index.ssf
Please note the following:
- New Jersey’s state-wide opt out rate for grades 3-8 is 4.6%.
- Montclair’s opt out rate for grades 3-8 is 31% (25% for elementary and 37% for middle school).
One conclusion is clear: While many acknowledge that the PARCC exam is not perfect, the vast majority in our State supports the new testing regime, including many of Montclair’s local neighbors with excellent school systems.
MKF has not yet formed a point of view on how we, as a community, should now address this issue, but we do believe that communicating, listening and sharing factual information with each other is the first step. That said, MKF supports the Montclair BoE Strategic Plan which included the use of the PARCC test to improve the quality of education delivered to our kids.
As the Star Ledger article mentions, NJ state officials will not ignore these results, and certainly a great deal of attention will be brought to bear on Montclair on this issue. There may also be financial ramifications to our recently approved budget. It is our hope that all of you will communicate your displeasure with these results and advocate that we move forward with positive programs for our kids to our Board of Education members. Their email addresses are:
David Deutsch: [email protected]
Anne Mernin: [email protected]
David Cummings: [email protected]
Jessica de Koninck: [email protected]
Robin Kulwin: [email protected]
Leslie Larson: [email protected]
Shelly Lombard: [email protected]
Since MKF is most focused on reviewing facts so we can make the best, most educated decisions for our kids, here are some more links that we hope might be helpful to you -
http://www.nj.com/education/2015/04/despite_opt-out_movement_most_nj_kids_took_parcc.html#incart_river
http://www.northjersey.com/news/n-j-releases-figures-on-opt-out-rates-for-new-state-tests-1.1309668
http://blogs.wsj.com/metropolis/2015/04/15/n-j-says-number-of-students-who-opted-out-of-tests-very-low/
http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/15/04/16/technology-earns-high-marks-in-first-round-of-online-testing/
http://observer.com/2015/04/weakening-standardized-tests-amounts-to-killing-the-messenger/