Teachers protesting the Measures of Academic Progress tests in Seattle won a big victory last week as Superintendent José Banda announced that high schools don’t have to give the tests after this spring. The decision will be up to each high school’s leadership team, Mr. Banda said in a letter.
All other schools in the district must continue to give the reading and math exams at least twice a year, despite the call from hundreds of teachers and parents to scrap the test altogether.
The decision reflects the recommendations of a district-appointed task force of teachers, principals, parents, district administrators, and representatives from community groups.
The protesting teachers, who number in the hundreds at six different schools, say the tests have little value for them or their students, monopolize school libraries and computer labs for weeks, and aren’t closely tied to what they’re supposed to be teaching.
The ruling covers the 2013-14 school year.
