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**FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE**
September 22, 2008
Contact: Alex Shoor
212.669.4691; (202)669.7059
Release #: 034-2008
PA Gotbaum, Assemblyman Weprin: Well-Rounded Education Compromised By Excessive Testing
- DOE must scale back non-essential “assessments” -
MANHATTAN – New York City Public School students are being inundated with standardized tests, the majority of which are city mandated but not required by law, said Public Advocate Gotbaum today. The Public Advocate stood with Assemblymember Mark Weprin, representatives from Time Out From Testing, and parents to call on the Department of Education (DOE) to scale back non-essential assessment tests and focus on areas of study that help kids develop an enthusiasm for learning like physical education, arts programming, and science.
Public Advocate Betsy Gotbaum said, “Once again, the administration's gone overboard on testing. While tests can be important tools to evaluate progress, the DOE must remember that testing does not equal learning. With principals and teachers feeling pressure to teach to the test, more classroom time is being spent on test preparation and review and the complete and well-rounded education that we want for our kids is in jeopardy. The DOE must listen to parents, educators, and students themselves, who are speaking out against too much testing.”
Assemblyman Mark Weprin (D-Little Neck) said, "Teachers are spending countless hours on mindless test-prep exercises that preclude real learning. Education should help our children to become informed citizens, dynamic leaders, and well-rounded individuals, not test-taking robots."
According to the DOE Citywide and Statewide Assessment Calendar, third and fourth graders are taking about 14 tests per year, meaning that eight and nine year olds are preparing for and taking a standardized test about every 13 days. Only two of the 14 tests 3rd graders must take are required by the state; the rest are assessment tests used to prep students for the state tests.
Students |
City Tests |
State Tests |
Total Per Year |
Average Days Between Tests |
3rd Graders |
12 |
2 |
14 |
Every 13 Days |
4th Graders |
10 |
4 |
14 |
Every 13 Days |
8th Graders |
8 |
5 |
13 |
Every 14 Days |
The DOE links its greatly expanded focus on testing over the past few years to increases in state test scores. But last year, the National Assessment of Educational Progress, a Congressionally-authorized federal test, known as the “nation’s report card,” found virtually no gains in New York City, calling into question the effect that this emphasis on testing has had on student progress.
1.Numbers in this column represent the total combined number of periodic assessments in ELA and math. This information was acquired from a 2008 – 2009 DOE Citywide and Statewide Assessment Calendar: http://74.125.45.104/search?q=cache:qMRcOoHcaBAJ:schools.nyc.gov
/NR/rdonlyres/81EFD716-4834-41E7-A718090900EE6DBB/42310/CitywideandStatewide2008Calendar62308.doc
+Citywide+and+Statewide+2008++2009+Assessment+Calendar+predictive+assessment&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us
2.Numbers in this column were taken from the same DOE 2008-2009 Citywide and Statewide Assessment Calendar.
3.Some eighth graders are eligible for additional subject-specific accelerated exams including art, music, and global studies. Eighth graders can also elect to take the Science High School placement exam and the Regents exams, which would result in additional testing. These tests are not included in the chart above.
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