The Michigan Department of Education (MDE) issued a press release announcing a public hearing to be held July 30, 2014 on the future of assessments. We are encouraging full participation by attending the hearing and voicing your concerns. The MDE is also providing an online and US Postal Service option for those that cannot attend.
Governor Snyder, the MDE, and Michigan school officials must take the politics out of the process and create at test that is OWNED and accountable to Michigan citizens not the federal government, multi-state consortias, private interests. Pure Michigan is our travel slogan it must become our assessment slogan. Outsourcing assessments to the ACT or Smarter Balanced is NOT an option. Taking questions from the Smarter Balanced Consortia assessment and calling it the “new MEAP” is a not an option.
What is tested is what is taught. What is taught is what is thought. It’s time for Michigan parents to speak loud and clear that they will not surrender control of the tests or their child’s education.
Below is the press release with all the details on the hearing and where you can send in your feedback. The deadline is August 5.
July 22, 2014
LANSING – The Michigan Department of Education will hold a public hearing from 9 a.m. to noon on Wednesday, July 30, 2014, in the atrium of Constitution Hall, 525 West Allegan, Lansing. The public is welcome to attend and comment on the new student assessment tool that will be administered beginning in Spring 2016.
Joseph Martineau, Deputy Superintendent of Accountability Services, will give a briefing on the timeline for a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the new assessment, which will go out on September 1 as prescribed in state law. The public is welcome to provide feedback on future statewide assessments to the department following the briefing.
Michigan is moving away from the former Michigan Education Assessment Program (MEAP) test in the 2014-2015 school year. In Spring 2015, students will be given a new MEAP assessment for the 2014-2015 school year that will measure the state’s standards in core subjects, as mandated by the state legislature in next year’s budget.
Beginning today, the Department also is holding a two-week public comment period. The public can provide input on the future state assessment by mail, email, fax, and online form through Tuesday, August 5.
U.S. Postal Service
Michigan Department of Education
Office of Standards and Assessment
608 West Allegan Street
P.O. Box 30008
Lansing, Michigan 48909Fax
Online survey/comment form
August 5 is also primary day, a great day to go to the polls and vote only for candidates who are against the Common Core. You can find a continually updated list of candidates FOR and AGAINST Common Core here.
Hope to see you in Lansing on July 30 and at the polls on August 5. Together we can stop common core and retain parent/local control of education.