I will protect your pensions. Nothing about your pension is going to change when I am governor. - Chris Christie, "An Open Letter to the Teachers of NJ" October, 2009

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Top-Secret Testing!

Shhh... the high school tests that the NJ DOE is contracting out are apparently a matter of national security:

The new high school testing is also on the way, although its details are a closely guarded secret. The budget outline said that the $1.7 million would go toward implementation of “five new end-of-course exams,” presumably similar to the subject tests that the state has tried with biology and algebra.
Department spokesman Justin Barra said they would be part of a nationwide testing initiative known as the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) that the Christie administration has signed on to, including the extensive use of online and multiple testing in each grade. It is unclear whether the state would go beyond PARCC testing for high schools, though, since that program only includes tests in language arts and mathematics.
Schools are waiting for the release of a report from a task force appointed by Christie last fall to look at high school graduation requirements and how they can better meet the skills needed for college and career. The task force was headed by Cerf’s chief of staff, David Hespe, and following several public hearings and discussions, it filed its report at the end of the past year. The report has yet to be released to the public. [emphasis mine]
Lord help us if this highly sensitive information gets out! Why, people might actually begin to question the logic of dumping a bunch of new tests on already over-tested students. Can't have that, can we?

David Hespe, NJ DOE Chief of Staff, reporting for duty!

5 comments:

Deb said...

You have made my day healthier by giving me a good laugh - not the topic which is very serious but the Hespe image - it will be hard for me to keep a straight face the next time I see him....

As for the testing, I guess if a school does not do well on the PARCC, it will be sent to the RAC to deal with it? Or we could just have the teachers teach and let those who need the help learning actually get it instead of making them prep for the test....ooops, sorry I just went off the reservation again.....

Anonymous said...

Top Secret eh,
I smell a consultant behind the development. Probably one with ties to BROAD or Cerf.

Anonymous said...

Most likely another Broad thing!

Broad has totally infiltrated NJ with it's privatization and for profit agenda.

Duke said...

Deb, good thing I didn't call Andy Smarick Morocco Mole...

Deb said...

:)

Thanks for another great image!!!

Deb