Fariņa eases consequences of high-stakes tests
Eliza Shapiro
Schools chancellor Carmen Fariña took a major step toward lessening the consequences of high-stakes tests on Wednesday by announcing that grade promotion would no longer be determined primarily by student performance on standardized state exams.
The change to promotional policy represents the de Blasio administration's first significant attempt to follow through on promises to lessen reliance in city schools on state exams.
The mayor has frequently criticized what he consider to be the Bloomberg administration overreliance on test scores, and Fariña has promised to address widespread anxiety surrounding the exams, which was compounded last year as many New York City students flunked the new Common Core-aligned state tests.
Under the new promotion policy, students will no longer be held back or sent to summer school solely because of a failing score on state exams.
http://www.capitalnewyork.com/article/city-hall/2014/04/8543485/fari%C3%B1a-eases-consequences-high-stakes-tests?top-featured-2
