Proposal

Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and the No Child Left Behind Act have been implemented
in the state of New Mexico since 2011. CCSS and the No Child Left Behind Act are designed to ensure
that all public schools are teaching the same material at the same pace. Both started out with just the
curriculum, now, CCSS and The No Child Left Behind Act, include many standardized tests. With each
passing school year, more and more of these tests are being implemented into public schools each year
and they are beginning to become a huge issue. Students now have to take the ACCESS test, several End
of Course Exams, the High School Interim Assessment, the NCSC, the NMAPA, PARCC tests, PSAT,
PACT, SAT, ACT, and the SBA test. Not to mention whatever AP tests high school students take, in class
tests, and final exams.

Secretary of the public education department, Hanna Skandera and Governor, Susana Martinez
began implementing these tests as a way to see if a student is staying on track with the curriculum. Now,
they are a way to measure the proficiency of teachers, students, and schools. There are many reasons,
however, that prove that these standardized tests are not an accurate measure of proficiency, especially in
the state of New Mexicogiven its demographics. The majority of schools are poor, and are in desperate
need of new learning materials. An estimated $1.7 billion a year goes into standardized testing. This is a
higher budget than all of Albuquerque Public Schools combined are given for learning materials.

Future teachers living in the state of New Mexico are terrified of their future, because they do not
want to teach from a book for a test, they want to implement their own creativity. Future parents are
planning moving before they have children, purely because they do not want their children to believe they
are defined by test scores, year after year. The schools in the state of New Mexico are slowly becoming
robotic, almost, all because Skandera and Martinez refuse to believe that all of these standardized tests are
not necessary. Neither of which have ever worked as an educator, or in the school setting at all for the
matter. School used to be about getting an education, now, its about passing test after test and something
needs to change. The purpose of this proposal is to find a solution to keeping schools, students, and
teachers on track with curriculum without the obscene amount of tests.

Albuquerque Public Schools now requires seven different standardized tests, all of which
are taken multiple times. These tests include:

ACCESS test (Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State-toState for English Language Learners). This is given to English language learners

in grades K-12th to measure ELLs proficiency in learning the English language.

End of Course Exams, which are given at the end of each semester for all grades
for several different subjects. These tests are used to assess what the student

should be learning for each subject.

High School Interim Assessment, given to students in grades 3-8, and possibly in
grades 9-12 (if necessary). This is a supplement test to the End of Course Exams.
Teachers use these tests to assess whether students are staying on track in their

course.
NCSC (National Center and State Collaborative) is a test given to students with

cognitive disabilities to assess whether they are able to leave high school or not.
NMAPA (New Mexico Alternative Placement Assessment) are tests given several
times during the year to assess students placement in classes.

PARCC (Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers) tests

are a measure of whether students are on the right track to go to college.

NMSBA (New Mexico Standard Based Assessment). This is a graduation
requirement. How well students do on this test determines grades of teachers and
the grades of schools.

The majority of class time is being used in order to train children to pass these slew of
standardized tests that are used to rank teachers and schools, which isnt fair to anyone.
The issue here is that schools teach teachers how to teach and teachers purely teach
students how to pass these tests. Teachers have no creativity to their curriculum since these tests
have taken over and learning is no longer the same. Since Hanna Skandera became the Secretary
of Education for New Mexico, she has tried to counter the high dropout rates and get APS up to
date with the No Child Left Behind Act, by enforcing strict graduation requirements and rigorous
testing. This method has not only made it harder for students who have all their credits to
graduate, but restricted their learning processes considerably. Teachers, parents, and others on the
school board across the city are just as unhappy as the students who have to take the tests. The
State is using these tests to record a letter grade for their teaching style. Teachers who were
otherwise held in high esteem in the academic community now cannot get jobs elsewhere
because of a bad grade received from the State. Another problem with using these tests as a
baseline are obvious factors such as; not everyone tests well, the material does not always match
the curriculum, those with certain disabilities still have to take it, cultural and wealth variations,
and general issues with content of the test (i.e. wording and misprints.)
The State of New Mexico was most recently ranked 52nd in the nation for proficiency on
the NMSBA. Our graduation rate is much higher at about 68% , this number comes from

wealthier school districts thriving from high test scores. The problem with this, however, is while
wealthier school districts thrive and raise New Mexicos dropout rate percentage, less fortunate
school districts crash and burn. These less fortunate school districts need more hands on learning
and less tests thrown at them. The pressure from the new National Standard has pushed our
already poor state to try and keep up with other states who are far more qualified to meet these
expectations. Skandera has shoved her policy down the throats of schools who dont have the
resources to compete with the numbers of wealthier school districts. We are now seeing an
increasing number of teachers who dont have degrees teaching our children because there is a
shortage of qualified teachers who want to teach here. Students who might have graduated before
are left behind because they might not test well and that is now one of the requirements for our
state.
If we were continue on the track we are now with APS, we are going to continue to see
schools who cannot keep up with the status quo fail and lose money, teachers, and bring negative
media to our state. We will have children graduating high school with sub-par knowledge of the
courses they will take in college, and a higher dropout rate due to failing tests their senior year in
high school. As one of the poorest states in the nation we cannot afford to bring in new members
of society without an education. The testing budget could go to so many other different things
that could improve all schools, not just the ones that get good test scores. We should be doing
everything in our power to help the children in Albuquerque schools succeed and build a brighter
future for our city.
To counter all the negative effects that testing has had in Albuquerque Public schools, we
propose a slightly altered version of the policy in place. The goal, eventually, is to make public
schools less focused on assessing proficiency, and more focused on giving children the best

education they can give and raising graduation rates in all school districts. There are steps to take
to improve the current educational system:
1. Raise awareness to the situation.
2. Eliminate the NMSBA and the PARCC as graduation requirements. Due to the fact
the NMSBA have been a part of public schools for years now, we argue that it should
still be required. However, it should only be a way for students, parents, and teachers
to determine whether the student is on track with the CCSS curriculum. The PARCC
exam should also be required, but only for high school students to determine whether
they are on track for higher education. We propose high school students take this
exam their junior year and their senior year, and if they do poorly then they should be
required to take a college prep course that will be implemented at all schools where
they learn college success skills.
3. Have multiple higher level educators (i.e. principals, super intendents, etc) observe
teachers year to year at different times in class to determine a teachers letter grade.
Currently, teachers grades are determined by how well or how poorly their students
do on the standardized tests, and this is an unfair way to assess teachers. If higher
level educators do assess teachers poorly, they should be required to attend teaching
4.

workshops until they are assessed again the following year.

Eliminate End of Course Exams and High School Interim Assessments. Teachers
very seldom know the content of either of these two exams, so teachers are unable to
truly help students pass these exams. Finals should be students only assessment of
their understanding of the subject. Students can prepare for finals and teachers can

actually help.
5. Make the ACCESS, NCSC, and the NMAPA optional. If English language learners
feel confident in their English, but are not sure if they could make it through a strictly

English speaking school, they could choose to take this test, but they are under no
obligation to. Students with cognitive abilities could choose to take the NCSC if they
are unsure about their abilities to manage college on their own, but the choice is up to
them. There are many other ways to determine whether a child is proficient in English
and if your child could succeed in college without a standardized test. If a child feels
that a course is too difficult or too easy, that child could chose to take the NMAPA to
either test higher or to be placed in a lower level course. If the child is content where
they are placed, they should be able to stay at the average level without additional
tests to prove they are an average student.
6. Implement lower level help classes. If a student takes the NMAPA and is not at the
level they should be at, there should be more options other than having them take
multiple tests. This is why I propose schools to implement more help classes. These
classes will be for subjects such as math, science, reading, and writing and would
have about a 10:1 teacher to student ratio. These classes would replace whatever class
that they were unable to pass. For example, if freshman in high school are required to
take the minimum level math of Algebra 1, students who were placed in this lower
level math help class would learn skills from Algebra 1 at a slower pace, but would
still obtain the credit.
7. Filter the incompetent teachers out and bring in more qualified teachers. There is
currently a huge issue involving incompetent teachers working in APS, simply
because nobody wants to teach here anymore. If the educational system was
reformed, more qualified teachers would teach in Albuquerque public schools, and
there would be fewer teachers that are teaching without a degree.

Currently, children are being held back due to not fulfilling test requirements and class
time is being focused toward these strict tests rather than learning time. Teachers spend all year
preparing students for these tests. Students spend about 72 hours each year taking these tests.
This means almost 45% of class time is taken up because of standardized tests. Each teacher
should be able to work at their own pace and teaching style within reason. By no longer
supporting the standardized testing, teachers can exercise their creativity in teaching.

Over The Course of an Average Kindergarten-12th Grade Student

Actual Class Time

Percentage of Class Time Used for Testing

We do not agree with holding any student back based on a test score if they are doing
well in their required courses. Students should consider learning and becoming educated fun.
They should think of learning as science projects and reading reports, not boring and long tests.
With this new policy, we would be placing the responsibility of teaching back in the hands of the
teachers and the school.
We are college students that represent FairTest. At FairTest, we are fully aware of the
testings effect on our state. In order to achieve more money for schools and improve the
education in New Mexico, we need to implement a new measure that does not strain the state
financially. Our organization is distinctive and capable of handling this task due to having
personnel that has experience with these test first hand. This experience varies from individuals

who once took these tests to educators who are on the school board. Our personnel can provide
effective and insightful methods on using tests that will help improve education in the long run.
Our Staff Members
Monty Neill, our Executive Director, has headed many reforms on test for schools since
1987. After he achieved a doctorate at Harvard University, he then moved on to be a teacher and
administrator for pre-school, high school, and college. Years later, he became one of the chairs of
Forum on Educational Accountability and Executive Director for FairTest. He has led FairtTest
to work jointly with other nationwide organization on reforming test. These joint operations have
lead to many accomplishments and the most recent one is the suspension of graduation test in
California.
Robert Schaeffer, Public Education Director and a member of FairTests Board of
Directors, has been involved in efforts of reforming the assessment of students with FairTest
since 1985. He used to be Editorial Writer for NBC, Research Director for Joint Committee on
Human Services and Elder Affairs in Massachusetts, and a research associate for MIT. With his
various skills on many fields, he is able to provide an insightful perspective on testing. His
perspective enhances our reforms in being able to fulfill students, teachers, and schools
educational needs
Our organization also consists of many skilled members who has or had experience in the
educational field. We have recruited individuals who share the passion of advancing the quality
of education and promoting equal opportunity. Our members are located in various states, so we
are able to receive unique information about how testing works in other locations. With many
perspectives, we are able to find the ideal way to test and have been working on spreading it to
many locations nationwide.

About FairTest and Our History

The National Center for Fair & Open Testing (FairTest) has been the leading group for
educational reform from the day the organization was created. Under Monty Neills guidance, the
organization has made sure to work for and follow a common goal, which is to work towards
better education and equal chances for everyone. Along with our pursuit for better education, we
have worked to end redundant and unaccountable test.
Our organization receives support from Open Society Foundations, Bay and Paul
Foundations, Schott Foundation, New World Foundation, Wiener Educational Foundation, and
National Education Association. With great support, we were able to create reforms that
advanced education through the removal of faulty tests and disclosure of tests flaws to the
public. We achieved many accomplishments throughout the decade and they can be found on our
website, fairtest.org. Our most prominent accomplishment is producing a letter that opposed
President Bushs plan to enforce NCLB testing for high schools. This letter was influential and
lead to the rejection of the plan.
FairTest is growing steadily through the initiation of many other coalitions who seek the
same desire of achieving better education for all individuals. With individual who desire a better
community through education, we are well prepared for the many uphill battles in the field of
education.
FairTest, An Organization that You Can Rely On
Our personnel and experience qualifies us to provide the school board with an innovative
method of testing that will increase graduation rates, decrease drop-out rates, and improve the
education of students in New Mexico immensely. FairTest puts major emphasis on innovation,
efficiency, and open-mindedness in providing educational benefits for the community.

To conclude, let us summarize the cost and benefits of what we are proposing. As
previously mentioned, New Mexico has hired many, many teachers that do not have teaching
degrees. A small cost of eliminating the several standardized tests that New Mexico has
implemented is to fire the teachers that are not qualified, and hire new teachers that are able to
teach the material that students must know in order to succeed. The cost of this would be
knowingly leaving previous teachers unemployed, and then also the actual price of hiring
qualified teachers and paying them higher than the average teachers salary in the state of New
Mexico, we suggest paying them about 45,000 a year. There is also the cost of implementing the
lower level help classes and the college prep courses that we mentioned. To do this, public
schools would need to hire about 8 more teachers per school to teach these classes, so there is
that cost. There is also the cost of purchasing new books and new materials for the college prep
classes. This would be an estimated cost of about $5,000 per school. This cost would include
college prep text books and workbooks for about 25 students per school. Since the lower level
classes would not be reviewing anything new, there is not an extra cost for books.
The benefits outweigh the costs by a long shot. By removing most of the standardized
tests, New Mexico public schools will be saving almost $1.7 billion, and they will actually be
saving money for books, desks, computers, and other educational materials to help contribute to
the success in our public schools. The future of New Mexico public schools is very bright if we
implement what we are proposing. There will be good, qualified, and passionate teachers in
schools to help students succeed, there will no longer be books and desks falling apart, there will
be newer and more advanced technology in schools, creativity in teaching will come back, and
students will enjoy learning again. School should be about helping student discoverhelping
students discover new things, their passions, their interests, and their dreams. Help us make

school a good thing again, and not a burden that is placed on the future generations. Stand for
kids. Stand for teachers. Stand for bringing the fun back into New Mexico public schools.