Board calls for fewer standardized tests

ROYERSFORD >> Joining a growing number of districts in the area, the Spring-Ford Area School Board sent a message to Harrisburg recently calling for fewer standardized tests.

In a 5-3 decision, the board approved a resolution last Monday calling for lawmakers to minimize the amount of mandated testing and the use of standardized testing for teacher and school evaluation. Board President Mark Dehnert, along with board members Willard Cromley and Clinton Jackson dissented. Board Member Todd Wolf was absent.

“This is one of the mechanisms that school boards have,” said Vice President Tom DiBello, “to send a unified voice to Harrisburg.”

The resolution states that the district provides its own testing that engages students and provides timely feedback to teachers. It also provides its own teacher and administrator assessments.

The problem with the number of tests mandated by the state, according to a resolution, is the limited resources being diverted in the classroom. Time is wasted preparing for the exam that could be used to focus on teaching “quality content.” The resolution also opposes the state mandate that requires the Keystone Exam as a graduation requirement.

Dehnert took issue with some of the resolution’s language. The resolution states standardized tests “disproportionately impacts our most vulnerable children: minority students, low-income students, special-needs students, as well as students who do not speak English as their first language.”

“I think that implies that minority students are not as good at learning as other students,” he said, “because we should really just say lowincome students.”

Solicitor Mark Fitzgerald said the resolution comes from the Pennsylvania School Boards Association. He suspected it was reviewed by that organization’s general counsel before it was sent to boards across the state.

Board Member Bernard Petit said he would rather the resolution remain as it is so that it becomes part of a united front with other districts sending similar resolutions.

“We want legislators to know that it isn’t just our school district that’s sending a resolution,” he said, “but all the districts in the state.”

From his perspective, Jackson questioned the long-term goal of the resolution. He wondered how this resolution would accomplish anything. “To your point, Clinton,” Board Member Joe Ciresi replied, “a piece of paper is a piece of paper. It shows that we stand as a united front. That we mean what we say. That we need our community to get behind us. It’s the only power we have.”