The State Board of Education is playing Political Games. A Schools effectiveness should be based on the performance of Students on the AzMerit Examination.
If we are concerned about the generally dismal state of our System of Public Education, we would not hesitate to supports efforts at improvement. We cannot continue with our “heads in the sand”, and, under the shibboleth, “local control of Education” watch passively as our System of Public Education becomes, internationally, at best, Second Rate!! The viability of our Democracy and National Security are in jeopardy.
Given the wide classroom instructional heterogeneity within Public Schools/Districts/States, it is necessary to have some National objective measure so as to determine if Students are being taught properly and/or effectively learning the required body of information per Subject Area. This is the sole purpose of Standardized Assessment Examinations. Common Core (AzMerit) is such an Assessment Examination and will indicate the effectiveness of the Schools/Districts/States Academic Program, so that, if necessary, remedial action can be taken.
Francis Saitta
Downtown
Disclaimer: As submitted to the Arizona Daily Star.
