MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Some parents are turning to an online petition to try to stop the state from rolling out the second part of the TNReady test.
TNReady is the new state test, replacing parts of the TCAP.
It is meant to better gauge student understanding.
Nearly 2,100 have signed the online petition titled, “Stop Part 2 of TNReady.”
The change.org petition, led by Tullahoma City School Board Member Jessica Fogarty, is gaining support online.
She took copies of the signatures to some state leaders this week.
The petition criticizes the roll-out of Part I of the test and the amount of time students are putting into testing.
Fogarty told WREG a lot of that support comes from Shelby County.
“I’m proud of them. I’m really proud of them for fighting,” she said.
The petition alleges the first part of the test was fraught with issues.
When it came time to administer Part I of the new state test online, the system failed.
The Tennessee Department of Education decided to offer the test in paper and pencil form.
However, there were several delays getting those paper tests to districts.
Shelby County Schools was still finishing Part I of testing leading up to spring break.
The testing window for Part II is slated to open April 25.
Some SCS Board members agreed with parent concerns Thursday.
“I think with the stakes as high as they are, I think that’s a wise thing to do. I didn’t know there was a petition today, but I certainly knew there was a move a foot,” said SCS Board Chair Teresa Jones.
“This [TNReady] has been a fiasco,” said School Board member Chris Caldwell.
The state released the following statement after our story was posted:
“TNReady is designed to measure real-world problem solving and critical thinking skills, skills that we know our students need to be successful in life. Teachers have been collectively working for years to transition to higher standards that lend themselves to new and better assessment questions. TNReady, both Part I and Part II, provides a closer alignment to the full breadth and depth of the standards we have been teaching. We knew the first year of a large-scale assessment change would not be perfect; however, eliminating Part II would discount the work that thousands of Tennessee educators and nearly one million students have done in recent months and years. We believe Tennessee students deserve the opportunity to show what they know and have learned.
In an effort to ease the burden on schools and districts, all testing materials will be pre-labled with student information. Measurement Inc. is currently printing and shipping materials for Part II. The vendor has increased capacity for printing and shipping for Part II.
The testing window is scheduled to begin on April 25, but districts start on various dates within the testing window between April 25 and May 10. ”
Governor Bill Haslam’s Office told WREG it had not received the petition.
