MEDIA ADVISORY FROM THE SAN DIEGO UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT: Superintendent Cindy Marten announces significant cuts to high-stakes testing

MEDIA ADVISORY
For Immediate Release
May 4, 2016
Contact: Linda Zintz, communications director, 619-847-6637 or lzintz@sandi.net<mailto:lzintz@sandi.net>


Superintendent Cindy Marten announces significant cuts to high-stakes testing
Educators will focus on improving student well-being and achievement


WHAT: San Diego Unified School District Superintendent Cindy Marten is holding a press conference to announce her plan to significantly reduce the amount of high-stakes standardized testing at our local schools. Instead, the district will focus on providing classroom educators with more meaningful measures of student progress in real time. The dramatic changes are expected to improve student well-being and academic outcomes.

WHEN: Wednesday, May 4, 2016
11 to 11:30 a.m.

WHERE: Eugene Brucker Education Center auditorium, 4100 Normal Street, San Diego (92103)

WHO: Superintendent Cindy Marten

DETAILS: San Diego Unified has a history of national leadership on the issue of student testing under Superintendent Marten, having previously reduced the number of interim assessment tests by 33% (from 3 to 2) and increased the age at which testing starts -- Second Grade instead of First. A major factor behind the changes is the recent study showing the overuse of standardized testing is harmful to area students, according to some 90% of San Diego's teachers. The study was conducted by the San Diego Education Association. The district will implement the following changes, effective in the 2016-17 school year:


* Stop the district-wide collection of interim assessment data and DRA test results, eliminating the need for teachers to waste valuable classroom time entering and uploading data for the central office.


* Replace irrelevant district-wide data collection requirements with real time reporting on student progress for teachers to use when and where they need it to support student learning.


* Empower teachers to analyze student learning results, and revise lessons to meet individual student needs.


· Support local schools as they develop common formative assessment plans, identifying relevant measures that give insight and critical information about how students are developing in literacy and mathematics.

Contact: Linda Zintz at 619-847-6637 or lzintz@sandi.net<mailto:lzintz@sandi.net> .

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