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SEA.jpg
Teachers rallied at district headquarters late Wednesday. Educators at Garfield High School, and a few others in the district, refuse to give the Measures of Academic Progress test. The district has formed a task force to study the issue, but expects teachers to administer the test. (Photo by Hilary Patterson/SEA)

Suspensions possible for Seattle teachers who fail to give a test

January 24, 2013 @ 2:41 am (Updated: 8:17 am - 1/24/13 )

The superintendent of Seattle Schools says he wants to work through issues teachers have with a performance test students are required to take at least twice a year. At the same time, he expects teachers to administer the test by the end of February.

School officials sent a letter Wednesday asking principals to inform all their teachers by day's end that they will be disciplined if they refuse to give district-required Measures of Academic Progress (MAP).

Students spend about 45 minutes completing each test for reading and math. They do this at least twice, possibly three times a school year.

The online test adapts to the student's responses. Answer a question correctly and the test presents a more challenging question. Miss a question, the next question will be easier.

MAP does not count toward students' grades. They don't need to pass it in order to move to the next grade level, or graduate.

For some kids, it's nothing more than computer mouse practice.

"Students are motivated by a variety of things. If they feel like something is not useful to them, they tend not to engage," says Jonathan Knapp, President of the Seattle Education Association.

While the test doesn't mean much for students, the district uses it as part of the teacher evaluation process.

"Low growth triggers additional evaluation of the teacher," says Teresa Whipple with Seattle Public Schools. Higher scores lead to "career ladder opportunities."

Teachers rallied at district headquarters late Wednesday. Educators at Garfield High School, and a few others in the district, refuse to give the test.

Superintendent Jose Banda has formed a task force to find solutions to their concerns about MAP.

The task force will be formed immediately and meet at least twice a month from February through May. Final recommendations will go to the superintendent in May.

"But in the meantime, I am asking as your Superintendent that teachers follow our policies and procedures and administer this assessment for our students," he says. "This is especially important for our students who are the most at-risk academically. I am hopeful we will continue to work together in support of our students."

He expects principals to make sure their teachers administer the test this year. In the past teachers who have refused to give tests have been suspended for 10 days without pay.

By LINDA THOMAS

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Comments (14)


  • Add A Comment

  • Rick W7PSK wrote...
    Saw a teach last night
    January 24, 2013 5:29 am
    Saying something about the Fragile kids and the ones that need more attention.

    Pardon me, but that is why the USA is falling fast in education, we are lowering the requirements constantly for a few so that they don't feel bad

    We are making smart kids dumb and or bored and creating a nation of stupid kids, because we are catering to a few

    We need to STOP this everyone gets a prize/cookie social passing, don't teach kids about winning/losing no failure crap NOW.

    We need to raise standards, teach education again and quit with the socializing of kids and teach them Math, Science and English (and not teach in 100 different languages). We need to keep kids back if they cant learn the 1st time. We need to make America a leader in education, not a 3rd world country.

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  • Keitho wrote...
    Right on Riick.
    January 24, 2013 6:42 am
    Unfortunately, our teachers were brought up in the everyone gets a cookie society. They do not want to be challenged or graded on their job. They just want their cookie and to be passed on year to year as well. Unfortunately our whole society expects to be handed things just for breathing. Thus the current socialist bent in the government. A sad state.
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  • Concerned US Citizen wrote...
    Disciplined?
    January 24, 2013 5:45 am
    How about fired for insubordination!!! Grow a pair superintendent and do your job!!! Just think of the cost savings if you fire these teachers. You can hire young ones just out of college who are motivated and up to date with the latest eduational tools for less money. They won't need pensions for years and the teachers fired for insubordination won't accrue any more pension credits and won't be able to collect till 65.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • mnpat wrote...
    Someone forgot that they a job to do.....
    January 24, 2013 7:36 am
    If you do not like what the job descrition entails, maybe they should leave the profession. I'm sure there are proper ways to disagree, now they have put themselves into a corner. School boards and the Superintendent run the district, not the union.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • flipper wrote...
    I agree...
    January 24, 2013 10:30 am
    Fire 'em if they don't do their job. Just like any other business.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
  • Gone Fishing wrote...
    I don't understand
    January 24, 2013 11:22 am
    Props to everyone here for recognizing insubordinate behavior (except M101) when they see it. I don't understand why teachers are always viewed in such an altruistic light?? And the kid in the picture doesn't look old enough to go to Garfield HS so she is being exploited. Regardless of what you think about standardized testing the teachers need to work through proper channels to change this instead of just refusing to DO THEIR JOB!
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  • HLC wrote...
    I sure hope messinpants is pulling our leg.
    January 24, 2013 12:02 pm
    Nobody could be that big a waste of human skin. Right? The poster the girl is holding is the reason the country is in a tailspin. The socialist agenda starts in grade school and continues through out their education.
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  • SeattleNative wrote...
    A road map is worthless if you don't know your starting point
    January 24, 2013 3:03 pm
    So teachers don't want to know if they're successful in advancing the education of our children?

    No wonder other countries are kicking our tails and shipping engineers over here to take our good-paying jobs. They demand more from their kids than (as it seems) American teachers do.

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  • messiah101 wrote...
    Sounds as if you Rightys have been beaten down
    January 24, 2013 3:53 pm
    Workers deserve to have a say in how they are treated as employees,how they are evaluated and who their Bosses are.Thats just common sense.And no worker should need to jump from job to job as some of the nitwits earlier posted they are entitled to negotiate for change. Remember people UNIONS ARE LEGAL
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  • Zoeller wrote...
    Yes Assiah-"UNIONS ARE LEGAL" But-
    January 24, 2013 4:24 pm
    They should be Illegal when it comes to any public sector employees.
    { "Thumbs Up":"1","Thumbs Down":"-1" }
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