Joshua Starr, the superintendent of the Montgomery County, MD, school system in suburban Washington, is no stranger to controversy over mandated testing. This blog covered his past attempt to delay testing aligned with Common Core in order to give his district teachers more time to prepare students for the changes associated with Common Core.
Starr has recently sent a message to the parents and interested observers in Montgomery County that the upcoming Maryland State tests for 3rd to 8th graders, the MSA’s, are an unavoidable waste of time for MCPS students. Because the MSA’s are not aligned with Common Core, which will be rolled out next school year, there is no point in continuing the MSA’s this year because the results of the tests will not have any ramifications, or so goes the argument from Starr.
In his letter, Starr writes, “I do not believe it is in the interest of our students or schools for the state of Maryland to administer the MSA this year, and many parents, educators, and local and state leaders feel the same way.” Starr also spoke about his position in a short video, which can be found here: http://onthemarcmedia.com/breaking-news/blunt-talk-dr-starr-msa-students-best-interest/
For more information, please visit: http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/District_Dossier/2014/03/joshua_starr_to_parents_upcomi.html
And for more information in general about a rise in nationwide opt-out-of-test actions for this year, please visit: http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/curriculum/2014/03/opting_out_of_testing.html
