Boycotting NCLB: In Effort To Protect Students Illinois District Will Refuse Test

[babylonsister]

:applause:


Boycotting NCLB: In Effort To Protect Students Illinois District Will Refuse Test
Dist. 93 Against Giving Tests To Kids Still Learning English
by Emily Krone


A DuPage County school district could be the first in Illinois — and perhaps the nation — to refuse to administer mandatory state exams to students who haven’t yet mastered English.

The boycott by Carol Stream Elementary District 93 would be an act of civil disobedience against the state’s decision to force English learners to take the same tests as their fluent peers.

Nearly 10 percent of the district’s 4,300 students were categorized as having limited English skills in 2007.

The federal No Child Left Behind law requires that all public schools annually test all students in select grades.

District 93 officials say they’re willing to break the law this spring to shield students from the frustration and humiliation of taking an exam not designed for them.

more...

http://www.commondreams.org/archive/2008/02/22/7240/

[ayeshahaqqiqa]

1. Good for them

about time teachers be allowed to teach things that will really help kids in life. The biggest is self-esteem.

[villager]

2. let a thousand protests bloom!

Yes indeed -- good for them!

[LWolf]

8. Hopefully, more districts will take courage from their example.

The downside, of course, is the loss of federal funding. Enough districts and states that did this would create an opportunity for a public campaign to reveal the mess, as NCLB leaves a growing portion of public education behind.

[HiFructosePronSyrup]

3. Great, I've been calling for this for awhile.

In many states the parents have the right to waive the standardized tests. I think parents and teachers should organize and boycott.

[proud2BlibKansan]

5. There is a downside

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=389&topic_id=2909181&mesg_id=2909764

[proud2BlibKansan]

4. This is a great idea BUT

they will lose their federal funding. If they don't get much from the feds, that's no big deal. But for districts that get a lot of federal money (those serving a high percentage of low income kids), they can't begin to afford to give the money up.

But still, I applaud this district for taking a stand. :applause:

[eppur_se_muova]

6. I hope it's only the beginning of a wider trend. nt

[LWolf]

7. I wish my district would join them. nt