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Community Corner

From the Hastings -on-Hudson PTSA to our Government Leaders

Dear Gov. Cuomo, Commissioner King, Board of Regents, Senate and Assembly members:

 We write to ask for transparency with respect to this year's Common Core English Language Arts exams (ELAs) and the Common Core math tests.  Specifically, we ask that after the tests have been administered, they be posted on the nysedregents.org website.

 We would like to be able to support changes in education that could be helpful to our children.  But we cannot begin to assess these changes if the tests themselves -- which measure both student achievement and teacher effectiveness -- are not available to review.  We want our children and our teachers to continue to be accountable, but that is impossible unless the creators of these tests are also held accountable.

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 Traditional and social media have been replete with anecdotes about problems with the 2014 ELA exams.  Educators have shared experiences about how the tests were too long to be properly completed in the time frame; how the tests did not align with the given curriculum; how material was inappropriate; how tests were not on grade level; even how advertising through product placement was present.  (No specific examples can be given because of required confidentiality statements, with harsh penalties, that school personnel had to sign.)  Only by releasing the tests can these challenges be addressed, and trust be gained.

 Publishing old ELA and math tests was standard practice for New York up until just a few years ago.  ELA and math tests from 2010 and before were (and still are) available on the nysedregents.org website.  Other very recent statewide standardized tests are posted there as well, such as January 2014 Regents exams and 2013 science exams given to elementary and middle school students.  We cannot see any good reason for the turnaround with respect to the Common Core exams.  If it is to re-use test questions or to embed field test questions, we believe that is not a sufficient reason to offset the harm and distrust caused by not releasing the tests.

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 In addition, releasing the tests to the public will allow the children to learn from the tests.  In the best of worlds, if the tests are as accurate a measure of performance as promised, teachers can spot weaknesses and strengths of students, and administrators can target where the school itself is strong and where it needs improvement.  But none of this can happen when tests are kept from the public.

 In sum, we would like the opportunity to work together with the State on education changes, but we cannot do so if the tests are not made available for review and for learning.  Again, we ask that the Common Core ELAs and math exams be posted promptly on nysedregents.org.

 Very truly yours,

 Hastings-on-Hudson PTSA Executive Board

Lisa Eggert Litvin and Lisa Nussbaum, Co-Presidents

Tracy Pyper, Vice President of Advocacy

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