Teach Plus statement on Senator Tammy Baldwin’s SMART Act
Boston – Teach Plus applauds Senator Tammy Baldwin’s (D-WI) Support Making Assessments Reliable and Timely (SMART) Act, introduced today in order to reduce unnecessary tests, help states and districts improve their use of assessments to ensure that they are aligned with standards, and provide teachers, students, and parents with valuable information about student progress.
“This legislation would create opportunity for teachers to work with policy makers to get the best assessments in front of students,” said Alexandra Fuentes, 9th/10th Grade ELL Biology/Ecology Teacher at TC Williams International Academy in Alexandria, VA. “I and the teachers I work with need better assessments to know more clearly what our students are learning and adjust the way we teach so that students learn more. Legislation like this that enables teachers to weigh in on assessments is a win for kids. “
“Teachers have consistently said that a good test will improve student outcomes by helping them target instruction and that effective tests are necessary to gauge student progress,” said Dr. Celine Coggins, founder and CEO of Teach Plus. “The imperative is to make sure that tests are aligned with meaningful curriculum, rigorous standards, and useful professional development – and that teachers are involved in the test adoption process. And we need to get rid of the bad tests that don’t give teachers the information they need to help students succeed. We are grateful to Sen. Baldwin for introducing this bill and encourage all Members of Congress to support it.”
