CPS threatens to discipline teachers who won’t give students ISAT test. [View all]

[madfloridian]

Barbara Byrd Bennett is not a happy camper lately.


Barbara Byrd-Bennett, chief executive officer for Chicago Public Schools, speaks during Wednesday's Chicago Board of Education meeting. | Chandler West/For Sun-Times Media

CPS threatens to discipline teachers who won’t give students ISAT

Chicago Public Schools chief Barbara Byrd-Bennett has threatened to discipline any teacher who refuses to administer an annual state achievement test next week, according to a letter obtained by the Chicago Sun-Times.

The letter, sent out Thursday to principals, claims teachers could face the harshest repercussion from boycotting the test — losing their state education certification.

On test day, teachers will be ordered to leave the school building if they refuse to administer the Illinois Standards Achievement Test, according to the letter.

....“Barbara Byrd-Bennett and CPS are afraid of us speaking up — of us voicing our opinion on how these tests are unjust,” said Sarah Chambers, a special education teacher at Saucedo. “We already discussed the potential repercussions and we know that what we are doing is right.”

Silent3 has a post about the hundreds of students who are refusing to take the test. I would say Barbara Byrd Bennett has her hands full.

Hundreds of CPS students refuse to take annual test

Holding signs that read “Our children are more than a score!,” the group encouraged parents to not have their children take the test...

“We think this is a great time for parents and students to say we are demanding more from our public schools than testing,” said Creswell, of More than a Score, an organization of parents, teachers, students and community members frustrated by CPS testing.

Wonder if Bennett is going to threaten the students as well.