NYSRSAS Position Paper on

High-Stakes Testing in New York State

As former school administrators/supervisors and residents of school districts in New York, the New York State Retired School Administrators and Supervisors [NYSRSAS] are concerned about the current state of high-stakes testing in our schools.  

It is our position that the impact of current testing on children, teachers, administrators and parents has been negative and provides neither a valid nor a reliable picture of student learning.  Recognizing the costs of testing in both taxpayer dollars and time lost for instruction, we recommend:

• A moratorium on existing state-mandated tests and a thoughtful review of the current structure of high-stakes testing in NYS 
• An organized phase-in of state-mandated tests over the next three years
• Elimination of time limits on mandated state tests for grades 3-8 and substitution of suggested time frames to give students reasonable opportunities to complete tests and demonstrate the full range of their understanding
• Involvement of highly regarded educators and content specialists in the development of all state tests
• Alignment of state tests with curriculum implementation and  teacher preparation to optimize learning and student achievement
• Test results used to inform instruction, not merely for purposes of “accountablity”

We support the development of a testing program that contributes to our students’ continuous academic growth and the acquisition of the skills necessary for their success in school and in the workplace.