Teachers’ union wants to limit student testing
Published 10:16 am Tuesday, September 8, 2015
MINNEAPOLIS — Minnesota’s teachers’ union wants to limit standardized testing so teachers can invest more time on broader learning in the classroom.
Education Minnesota released a report Monday that says high-stakes testing should be conducted only in the fifth and eighth grades.
Proctor elementary school teacher Elizabeth Proepper was one of the report’s authors. She tells the Star Tribune reducing the number of exams would save money, and the state could invest in a more well-rounded assessment, like a writing piece or project.
Teachers in the state and nationwide have been critical of high-stakes testing and changes are being considered.
Testing advocates say the exams are necessary to evaluate student progress and holding teachers accountable. They also say the exams can identify achievement gaps between white students and students of color.