Hampshire Regional High School
Statement on MCAS from School Committees in the Hampshire Regional High School
District (June 15, 2000)
To date, three of five School Committees in the Hampshire Regional High School District have voted unanimously to support these resolutions. They are: the Hampshire Regional School Committee, the New Hingham (Chesterfield and Goshen) School Committee, and the Williamsburg School Committee. We anticipate the remaining two school committees from Southampton and Westhampton will follow suit in their July meetings. These school Committees are not part of the state association, but they understand the value of taking a public stand on this issue of eliminating the "high stakes" aspect of MCAS.
We respectfully request that the ________ School Committee join with the other Hampshire Regional School District school committees in adopting the following policies and statements in order to safeguard the educational integrity of our schools, to promote democratic dialogue within our schools and community about educational reform, and to protect our children and teachers from the detrimental effects of the MCAS testing program.
1. We agree that no single test or assessment tool, including the MCAS, should be used as a sole determinant
for a high school diploma or for promotion from one grade to the next.
2. We direct the superintendent and principals, in collaboration with their teaching staffs, to develop a multiple system of assessment as called for in the original educational reform law and grant a high school diploma based on this system. This multiple system of assessment should extend down into the elementary schools and help prepare students for the high school level assessments.
3. As long as the MCAS exists, it should not be used to compare students, schools, or teachers nor should it be the basis for either rewards or punishments. Data should only be used by each individual school as one source of information for looking at student achievement, teaching practices, and curriculum development. We direct all schools not to alter their curricula or teaching practices in response to the MCAS, except for those changes the teachers and administration agree to be educationally beneficial.
4. There shall be no reprisals against any student who decides not to take the MCAS, provided they have their parentıs permission, attend school, and participate in constructive and educationally meaningful activities during the testing time.
5. There shall be no reprisals against any teacher or staff who speak out against the MCAS.
6. Curriculum development and assessment methods shall evolve mainly from the Massachusetts Common Core of Learning.
7. The Curriculum Frameworks shall be used as a guide for curriculum development. The content of any Framework shall be adopted only if the teaching staff and administrative staff agree on its relevancy to the schoolıs educational program. Framework contents that have been rejected by the Board of Education may be adopted if deemed to be more valuable and relevant to the schoolıs educational program.
8. The District school Committees and administrators will join together to communicate these concerns about the MCAS to our local legislators and the state Board of Education.
