ACTION ALERT! Spread the word: Teach not test.

The IFT has been working for over a year to urge the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) to abandon their misguided proposal to increase state testing for grades 3-8 and expand testing to grades K-2. We’ve made some progress, but we need your voice now more than ever to urge ISBE to work with educators, families, and assessment experts to build a more balanced assessment system.

Updates

Convening. With our partners, IFT held a convening on February 12, Advancing Equity Through Deep Learning and Meaningful Assessment, to discuss the research about assessment, deep learning, the limits of standardized tests like those proposed by ISBE, and how to engage in critical, culturally relevant teaching and learning.

March 16 State Board meeting. Dr. Brian Gong from the Center for Assessment presented findings from ISBE’s assessment survey and reviewed initial findings of the focus groups they conducted earlier this year.

Parents, assessment researchers, and educators, including IFT First Vice President Cyndi Oberle-Dahm, voiced concerns about the interim testing plan again at this meeting, and our partner, Illinois Families for Public Schools, shared a petition with over 1,000 signatures in support of the Too Young to Test bills, which would prohibit K-2 state standardized testing.

More work needs to be done, and we need your help!

1. Contact your state legislators. Tell them to support the “Too Young to Test” bills (Senate Bill 3986/House Bill 5285).
   

2. Make a public comment to the State Board. ISBE members need to hear from IFT members before they make this decision. Register to provide public comment at the upcoming April 20 or May 18 ISBE meetings. (Comments are no more than three minutes and you will receive additional information and support from your union if you participate.)
   

3. Share information on opting out of state tests! Especially this year, state tests have the potential to increase student stress, and all Illinois public school students can refuse to take state tests.
   

4. Learn more.