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Letter Writing Campaign - Stop ISBE's RFSP Vote
Organized with CTU, IL Families for Public Schools, Raise Your Hand, Learning Disability Association, Paul Zavitkovsky from the University of Illinois at Chicago's Urban School Leadership program -
RFSP Vote POSTPONED by ISBE
ISBE decides to POSTPONE vote on Request for Sealed Proposals for a vendor for a statewide interim system. They state that they are "seeking more community input" before moving forward with changing assessments.
UPID began meeting with AFT to discuss state and federal strategy;
held a member and community webinar (125+ attendees statewide) -
Coalition Planning
Drafting of legislator letter to ISBE expressing concern over proposed assessment plan;
Introduction to Scott Marion of the Center for Assessment;
IFT members (CTU, Local 943, Peoria) become trainers of AFT Reclaiming Assessment Course -
Speakers at ISBE Meetings
IFT P20 Ed Policy Committee works to identify speakers at state board meetings;
IFT members of ISBE State Assessment Review Committee attempt to authentically involve SARC but blocked by ISBE at meeting -
ISBE States Intention to Move Forward With Proposal
ISBE states that they are moving forward with original proposal; engagement/organizing with SARC;
UPID meets with AFT Ed Issues for national support -
Engagement with SARC
Engagement with SARC through one-on-one meetings;
planning for assessment convening begins with IFT members (Local 4131, Local 943, CTU) and AFT, IFPS, Paul, Scott Marion;
coalition begins drafting video scripts;
IFT Executive Board passes IFT assessment resolution submitted by P20 Education Policy Committee -
Subject matter hearing
Subject matter hearing Education Committee of General Assembly; IFT’s trainers of AFT Reclaiming Assessment begin planning for spring to hold free, virtual workshops for members on assessment: IFT staff present with AFT VP Jolene DiBrangi on an assessment action agenda to the AFT Teachers Program and Policy Council -
IFT Communication to Members
IFT cautions members on email re: ISBE survey;
Letter from 37 legislators to ISBE on concerns with ISBE interim plan;
Teach Not Test website goes live;
Assessment convening planning continues;
IFT staff, President Dan Montgomery and VPs Rachel Esposito and Elaine Barlos meet with Center for Assessment and ISBE to express concerns with interim testing plan -
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Assessment Convening
Assessment Convening with assessment experts, educators, students on impacts of standardized testing and possibilities for more humane, effective assessments;
IFT members and staff participate in ISBE focus groups on assessment proposal -
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Too Young To Test
Engagement of members/legislators on Too Young to Test;
IFT virtual workshops on assessment for members;
Work begins to draft resolution on Assessment for AFT convention (with RIFTH, OFT, Linn, Mass Teachers Union Local 1037, AFT Colorado/Douglas County Federation of Teachers; Florida Education Association) -
IFT Press Conference
IFT virtual workshop on assessment for members;
IFT staff work to promote AFT Summer Educator Reclaiming Assessment course, to continue to build IFT trainer cadre -
ISBE announces NO CHANGE being made to assessment reqs
Too Young to Test bill passes into law -
Coalition partner letter to ISBE
Coalition partner letter to ISBE advocating for Center for Assessment recommendations -
AFT Joint Resolution on Assessment Passed at Convention
AFT joint resolution on assessment passed at Convention;
meetings with LEND/SCOPE, LUDA to advocate for improvement to current summative test, IL Assessment of Readiness (IAR):
-better reportage
-shorten time
-consider computer adaptive design
