The point of this article is that Starr is a critic of federal education policy. He is calling for a national moratorium on testing, because all of the country, states are all at once rolling out new learning standards and (soon) new assessments and in many places (not MoCo), using test scores to evaluate teacher performance. He thinks nationally, we are doing too much at once and should take a break from testing while new initiatives are implemented. Starr does not have the authority halt testing in Montgomery County. He is just voicing an opinion on policies set a the federal and state level.

Thank you!

But, what about the inane policy, from his office, forbidding able and capable students to advance in certain subjects (e.g., eliminating math pathways) and stuffing 20 - 28 students (of varying ability -- Gaussian distribution) in cubby holes based on age (up to 2 year spread) and grade assignment for 50 min lessons expecting a single teacher to reach each student at their level. After instituting such a policy, it is crystal clear why he would want to take a break from testing as this "dumbing" down approach to education will certainly reflect in poorer performance for MCPS students on his watch/leadership and may earn him the BOOT!

Anonymous wrote:The point of this article is that Starr is a critic of federal education policy. He is calling for a national moratorium on testing, because all of the country, states are all at once rolling out new learning standards and (soon) new assessments and in many places (not MoCo), using test scores to evaluate teacher performance. He thinks nationally, we are doing too much at once and should take a break from testing while new initiatives are implemented. Starr does not have the authority halt testing in Montgomery County. He is just voicing an opinion on policies set a the federal and state level.

Thank you!

The point of this article is that Starr is a critic of federal education policy. He is calling for a national moratorium on testing, because all of the country, states are all at once rolling out new learning standards and (soon) new assessments and in many places (not MoCo), using test scores to evaluate teacher performance. He thinks nationally, we are doing too much at once and should take a break from testing while new initiatives are implemented. Starr does not have the authority halt testing in Montgomery County. He is just voicing an opinion on policies set a the federal and state level.

A little bit history. In 2001, NCLB was passed. It required achieving ABCD in XYZ years. In 2012, most of 50 states got a waiver and they planned to achieve ABCD in another 5 years.

OK. Dr. Starr asked for 3 years now since he can not ask indefinite. This is a fact. And, it is not clear whether after 3 years, he will do the same. Period.

It is too early to claim others are fool.

Anonymous wrote:

Wait...previously everyone complained about too much testing, having teachers teach to the test, etc. But now that Starr has called for a 3 year moratorium, people are complaining about that?

You do realize that if Starr called for the continuation of testing, you would complain about that, right? Seriously, this guy can't win no matter what he does.

You do realize that Starr is not calling for an indefinite moratorium on standardized testing or an end to standardized testing. He is ONLY calling for a 3 moratorium. This is clearly not about being against standardized testing but about protecting himself from bad scores. I would be perfectly fine with getting the outcome that we desire (getting rid of teaching to the test) even if his motives were self serving BUT this is not going to end teaching to the test. MCPS is going to start integrating test prep and teaching students how to respond to the type of questions on the new students as soon as they can. You will start to see this introduced and refined in the next 2 years with the 3 rd year prior to the moratorium being in full test prep swing.

Don't be a fool and get your head out of the sand!

Just follow the money as Starr is doing

Wait...previously everyone complained about too much testing, having teachers teach to the test, etc. But now that Starr has called for a 3 year moratorium, people are complaining about that?

You do realize that if Starr called for the continuation of testing, you would complain about that, right? Seriously, this guy can't win no matter what he does.

You do realize that Starr is not calling for an indefinite moratorium on standardized testing or an end to standardized testing. He is ONLY calling for a 3 moratorium. This is clearly not about being against standardized testing but about protecting himself from bad scores. I would be perfectly fine with getting the outcome that we desire (getting rid of teaching to the test) even if his motives were self serving BUT this is not going to end teaching to the test. MCPS is going to start integrating test prep and teaching students how to respond to the type of questions on the new students as soon as they can. You will start to see this introduced and refined in the next 2 years with the 3 rd year prior to the moratorium being in full test prep swing.

Don't be a fool and get your head out of the sand!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wait...previously everyone complained about too much testing, having teachers teach to the test, etc. But now that Starr has called for a 3 year moratorium, people are complaining about that?

You do realize that if Starr called for the continuation of testing, you would complain about that, right? Seriously, this guy can't win no matter what he does.

So true.

Agreed.

No data, then try to get fed funds based on old data.
Perhaps he figures during this transition time to 2.0 test scores will go down so much he doesn't want to have anything to submit to the Feds!

Say what now!

Well, I guess whatever the reason, I will be glad if there is no testing. Teaching to the test was apparent from the beginning of the school year and the teacher didn't even bother to hide it on parent day and concern about MSA performance (that was months ahead) was mentioned at every one of my child's IEP meetings. The whole purpose of education is lost.

Starr doesn't want bad test scores because he'll get booted out. Test scores are very political. They drive real estate prices especially in areas right on the border of a top scoring school and middle level scoring school. Right now the people upset with Starr are the parents of school age children dealing with larger class sizes, the math mess, and 2.0. The rest of the county population doesn't care..BUT..if test scores drop and this affects their house value they will care.

What bothers me so much is the terrible and constant level of dishonesty from this man. He is calling for a 3 year moratorium only to serve his own interests and retool the education to prep kids to do better on the new tests. He could come out an say that the students will not be prepared for the new format and we need 3 years to implement prep for this test. Its a complete lie to say the moratorium has anything to do with being against standardized testing and teaching to the test Its the EXACT opposite. A chance for Starr to save his own behind and get new test prep into the schools.

So I think Starr is prepping us for some bad test results. Apparently we need 4-5 years to decide if the new c2.0 is working? My read is that new curriculum is a big experiment and they will have to tinker with it as they read the test results the next few years. In other words, my kids are part of one big experiment that may benefit future kids. Hopefully, my kids won't suffer too much damage, I guess.

The truth is we need testing, but it should either be for policy research or for evaluating children on their own individual educational needs. It should not be to evaluate teachers. MCPS does not evaluate teachers through test results, however, so I don't get what all the fuss is about other then to prep us for the bad curriculum we know is now getting rolled out.

Is C2.0 Josh Star's fault? No. The BOE/Weast made these decisions already. Still, BOE/Starr are accountable for this mess.

By the way, is Pearson going to design and implement the testing on their own for-profit curriculum? That seems like a conflict of interest to me.

This is explains why a previous poster stated plainly; the MCPS students would do worse on both the new AND the old test today because their education, in limbo, has prepared them for neither. A "3-year moratorium" on those standardized tests in MCPS would allow the bureaucracy to get the teachers and students "well test-prepped" to score high and not stain Starr's own report card. The rest of Mr. Starr's self-serving community college style gibberish is smoke and mirrors.

Anonymous wrote:Sadly, the driver behind the 3 year moratorium is to give the administration the chance to integrate prep for the new tests. There is a good deal of concern at the local principals level and above that they will not be prepared for the new test. MCPS regardless of whatever curriculum does teach to the test and makes sure that the students everyday education is structured against being able to answer questions in the way they are presented on the MSA.

Starr knows that there will be a drop in test scores until he can reshape what is actually taught to match the new tests. I would be behind a permanent ban but a 3 year ban does nothing but serve the interests of bureaucrats who shouldn't even be in education.

Yes, I heard from someone at our school that the MSAs will not cover the same material as the common core (2.0 curriculum), so the MSAs don't match what the kids have been taught - which is a set up for drops in test scores.

Sadly, the driver behind the 3 year moratorium is to give the administration the chance to integrate prep for the new tests. There is a good deal of concern at the local principals level and above that they will not be prepared for the new test. MCPS regardless of whatever curriculum does teach to the test and makes sure that the students everyday education is structured against being able to answer questions in the way they are presented on the MSA.

Starr knows that there will be a drop in test scores until he can reshape what is actually taught to match the new tests. I would be behind a permanent ban but a 3 year ban does nothing but serve the interests of bureaucrats who shouldn't even be in education.