The FSA and the LRB

To all members:

We may have lost the LRB ruling over our role in administering the FSA tests, but we have not suffered a complete loss. The LRB also ruled that we do not have to prepare for or mark the FSA tests. The BCTF School Staff Alert (#26) of February 9th, 2009 that states the details of the ruling.

“The LRB made no order directing how school boards choose to fulfill their statutory obligations to administer the FSA. Therefore school boards may choose to have principals or vice-principals administer the FSA.”

“Administrators will not require teachers to perform preparation activities for the administration of the FSA that have not been performed in the past.”

“..the marking of FSAs was never at issue and was never part of the LRB ruling. The Federation position that teachers will not mark the FSA stands.”

I am asking you to refrain from preparing for the FSA tests. I am also asking that each and every one of you refuse to mark the FSA tests – even in the face of the employer offering you a $300 (pre-tax amount) for the pleasure.

We voted to boycott the test in its entirety. We may have to administer the tests, but we do not have to mark them – hold firm, use your day off as a day off – not a working day.

$300 for a day’s work is less than scale – it is $300 per person that is not going into your classroom, or into support for children with Special Needs. Resist the bribe, do not mark. Your employer has shown you how they want to treat you, and they have shown you how important the FSA tests are to their accountability agenda (an agenda that is undermining your professional autonomy, self-respect, and the trust in public education), so let them mark their tests – they want the data, the data will not help you teach, nor will it help your students learn.