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Official CMC Position Statement on Testing
The
California Mathematics Council supports responsible assessment and
accountability and calls for ending the use of a single test for
high-stakes decisions that result in rewards and sanctions in
California. We oppose the use of a single measure to determine the
future of a child, teacher, administrator, or school. A responsible
assessment system provides multiple measures of students’
understandings and academic progress for the purpose of improving
instruction and informing parents and the community.
The current use of high-stakes tests interferes with children’s learning of mathematics by:
- Narrowing the curriculum to what is on the test;
- Reducing the amount of time available for instruction;
- Causing teachers to teach to the test rather than for understanding;
- Emphasizing memorization and speed instead of understanding and thinking; and
- Creating undue anxiety among students.
No single measure should determine whether a child is promoted or
graduates. No single measure should determine whether a teacher is
retained or is the recipient of monetary compensation. No single
measure should be used to judge the educational program of a school or
the quality of the staff.
Therefore, the California Mathematics
Council calls for an end to the use of a single test to make
high-stakes educational decisions about children, teachers,
administrators, or schools. The California Mathematics Council supports
the development of multiple assessment methods that are valid and
reliable for the purposes for which they are designed and that provide
useful information about students’ understanding of mathematical
concepts and their ability to solve mathematical problems. Students
must be provided with multiple opportunities to demonstrate proficiency
and there must be appropriate accommodations for students with special
needs and for English language learners.
Adopted May, 2001
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This Page was last updated: Wednesday, February 25, 2004 at 9:24:22 PM
This page was originally posted: 5/29/2001; 3:50:04 PM.
Copyright 2008 cmcmath
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