AFT on ESSA Proposed Regulations on Assessments

WASHINGTON—Statement by American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten on the Department of Education’s proposed regulations on assessments under the Every Student Succeeds Act:

“While the proposed regulations give states and school districts needed flexibility to develop assessment systems—which the AFT pressed for—we remain concerned that the drive for data eclipses student needs. It’s wrong to tie waivers for exceeding the cap on testing students with significant cognitive disabilities to requirements to test 95 percent of students, as we raised during negotiated rulemaking. We’re worried that parents who want to opt their kids out of testing will be thwarted by rules punishing their schools if they choose to exercise their rights.

“As each set of regulations interpreting ESSA comes out, we look at them based on the following standard: Are they following the law’s intent to reset education policy to ensure that students are getting an opportunity to learn, and not reverting to the test-and-sanction policies of No Child Left Behind and Race to the Top? Testing should be diagnostic—giving teachers, students, parents and schools information to assist in providing every child access to high-quality instruction—not used as a basis for high-stakes decisions and sanctions. Kids are not test scores, and we have to get away from that mentality to truly reset the system.

“The best news in what was released today is the seven-state pilot to develop innovative assessment systems. There are so many great examples of models that use a comprehensive, multiple-measure approach, such as using project-based learning and student portfolios to determine a more well-rounded and holistic view of student learning, rather than just rote memorization.”