Tell Secretary Cardona We Need To Know How Our Kids Are Doing
Even before the current pandemic, our system of education has failed to equitably serve historically marginalized groups. Now, in the midst of a massive shift in the delivery of education in this country, we must continue to ask: How are the children?
The Biden administration has already committed to collecting critical data on how these students are faring academically, by continuing to require states to assess students once a year and report the results publicly. A large coalition of organizations fighting for civil rights, social justice, disability rights, and educational equity have already come out in strong support.
Now, however, many powerful special interests are asking Secretary Cardona to cancel assessments. We must tell him to stay the course and keep assessments this year so we can continue to support our most vulnerable students.
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Letter to Secretary Cardona
Dear Secretary Cardona,
Congratulations on your confirmation as the next secretary of education. As you take over the Department of Education, you no doubt face a variety of challenges in addressing the educational fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic.
It was promising to hear your calls for unity and plans to listen to the diverse voices of stakeholders in education. To that end, a great start would be listening to the parents, civil rights, social justice, disability rights, and education advocacy organizations that are asking that you keep collecting summative data on student achievement.
You have stated clearly that without assessments, it will be increasingly difficult to provide targeted support and resources to aid in closing educational gaps that have grown during this pandemic.
As you know, it is critical that policymakers, education leaders and families have the data on how students are achieving, and the quality of education they are receiving, so they can make informed decisions on how to best serve the children. We must know how our children are doing, and how the pandemic is exacerbating the inequities that already existed.
This is why civil rights groups and education advocates are urging you to call on all states to administer summative statewide assessments.
Please continue to listen to the voices of stakeholders and ensure that we can accurately and objectively measure the effect this pandemic is having on our historically underserved students.