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When It Comes to Standardized Testing, How Much Is Too Much?

Alberto G.
/
Creative Commons

Later this month, Connecticut students will begin taking the Common Core-aligned Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) test, which is designed to measure their progress in a variety of subject areas. 

But some are not so thrilled about Connecticut’s testing requirements. The state’s largest teachers union recently asked lawmakers to cut back on standardized tests. And a number of parents say they plan to opt their kids out of SBAC testing this Spring.

This hour, our panel of experts weighs in on standardized testing and some of the controversy surrounding it. A little later, we also check in on the search for Connecticut’s next education commissioner.

Join the conversation on Facebook and Twitter.

GUESTS:

  • Mark Waxenberg - Executive Director of the Connecticut Education Association
  • Jeffrey Villar - Executive Director of the Connecticut Council for Education Reform
  • Jacqueline Rabe Thomas - Education Reporter for the Connecticut Mirror
  • Jonathan Pelto - Blogger and advocacy journalist based in Connecticut

John Dankosky and Chion Wolf contributed to this show. 

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

Federal funding is gone.

Congress has eliminated all funding for public media.

That means $2.1 million per year that Connecticut Public relied on to deliver you news, information, and entertainment programs you enjoyed is gone.

The future of public media is in your hands.

All donations are appreciated, but we ask in this moment you consider starting a monthly gift as a Sustainer to help replace what’s been lost.