In December of last year, the Connecticut Department of Education issued a request for proposals for new charter schools – the first time in nearly three years. As the state grapples with a budget disaster and Gov. Dannel Malloy continues to propose changes that would dramatically change the way Connecticut pays for education, the state should refrain from opening any new charter schools and freeze the funding of existing ones.
James Mulholland
Posted inCT Viewpoints
No evidence standardized testing can close ‘achievement gap’
In a recent commentary piece, Jeffrey Villar, Executive Director of the Connecticut Council for Education Reform, praises the Connecticut State Board of Education’s support for using student SBAC results in teacher evaluations. He contends, “Connecticut continues to have one of the worst achievement gaps in the nation, the SBE appears committed to continuing to take this issue on.” Contrary to Mr. Villar’s assertion, there is little, if any, evidence to support the idea that including standardized test scores in teacher evaluations will close the so-called achievement gap.
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Need to save money? Cut Connecticut’s SBAC testing
As the state of Connecticut wrangles with the budget in the coming weeks, one area of the budget the legislature has not yet considered for cuts is the state’s SBAC testing program. The state estimates it will spend $17 million developing and administering standardized tests during the 2015 and 2016 fiscal years. Standardized testing has come under increasing scrutiny across the nation, particularly in its use for high-stakes decisions such as student promotion, in teacher evaluations, and other school personnel decisions.
Posted inNews
Op-Ed: Where’s the praise for Connecticut’s public education?
Critics like to point to poor test scores and student performance when lamenting their role in a weak economy, but where is their praise when the economy is thriving?
Posted inCT Viewpoints
Where’s the praise for Connecticut’s public education?
Critics like to point to poor test scores and student performance when lamenting their role in a weak economy, but where is their praise when the economy is thriving?