Just caught up with yesterday's Board of Education meeting.
The Social Studies MCAS was reinstated on a highly unusual 5-4 split vote of the Board of Education. (Among those in opposition: Worcester's own James McDermott)
The decision to move forward with the test now rests with Secretary Paul Reville and Governor Deval Patrick. If they do decided to move forward, it then is up to the Legislature to fund the test.
You might remember that the test has been on hold for several years due to lack of funding. Reinstating it in this of all years shows a remarkable tone-deafness, merits of the test or no aside.
Either way they won't fund this. They aren't going to fund the test itself or the prep work that will be needed to go into it. And given that curriculum is currently set to prepare students for the current science, math and English tests they won't pay to adjust the curriculum nor do we have time to prep students for a history test. Not that we teach to the test or anything like that. I really have no clue why the people on that board would do this at this time. I suppose if we're going to be laying off teachers anyway next year we can throw in a couple more to pay for the new testing requirements.
ReplyDeleteNot that I'm bitter or anything.