PARCC

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education released statewide achievement scores for PARCC and MCAS exams Monday afternoon and they showed an improved ranking for the Elizabeth Carter Brooks Elementary School.

Brian The Cab Driver has an exclusive interview with Massachusetts Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education Mitchell Chester. The commish outlines the future of standardized testing, why the new state assessment, MCAS 2.0, is necessary evil, and his opinion on why it was necessary to have all employees at an under-performing elementary school re-apply for their position...

Brian's Beat interviews New Bedford parent Jennifer Duarte who recently orchestrated two successful, peaceful demonstrations against Massachusetts high-stakes tests. Duarte tells us how an elementary school principal blamed her group for deliberately telling students erroneous information...

A group of parents and educators descended on the New Bedford Public Schools Administration Building at 455 County St. Monday morning in protest of continued high stakes testing.

It was a site to behold. Parents and former teachers taking to the streets, standing with placards outside the New Bedford School Department building. The peaceful demonstration designed to gather support for the swelling Opt-Out movement when it comes to statewide standardized tests, like MCAS and Parcc...

During their last meeting the New Bedford School Committee voted to not send information to parents regarding the ability to opt-out of PARCC and MCAS testing.

According to a Standard Times, the schools Superintendent believes New Bedford parents, teachers and students "need to embrace" Parcc testing or feel the pain courtesy of the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. Dr. Pia Durkin balked  in a lengthy diatribe, at the recent school committee meeting, at a Resolution that would inform, not encourage, students and parents of

While New Bedford students won't be forced to take MCAS or PARCC tests, they also won't be told they can opt out. At Monday's meeting, the New Bedford School Committee voted to not send parents information about their right to refuse standardized testing for their child...

In the thirteen plus years since MCAS became the necessary evil to receive the vaulted Massachusetts high school diploma, assessment brainwashing has permeated government system workers, parents and children. I am amazed over the semantics...

Two New Bedford School Committee members are working on a resolution to allow students along with their families the right to opt out of high stakes tests, like MCAS and PARCC. Brian explains not only is it time, but how you should throw your support their way...