As the debate grows over the role of standardized tests in public education, Town Hall Seattle presents a panel discussion on Tuesday, Sept. 17, at 7:30 p.m. called To Test or Not to Test, moderated by Dean Paton, Seattle correspondent for The Christian Science Monitor.
In Washington (and beyond), students are regularly tested by the state to assess their educational progress. Some say standardized tests help ensure that all public-school students receive a quality education. Some educators, parents, students and teachers’ unions say the exams don’t adequately evaluate learning – a position that led to a decision earlier this year by teachers at Seattle’s Garfield High School to boycott the Measures of Academic Progress Test (MAP).
Considering all perspectives of the highly charged issue, Jason Mendenhall of the Northwest Evaluation Association and Wayne Au of the University of Washington Bothell anchor a panel including an educator from Seattle Public Schools and a representative from a local nonprofit whose mission is to improve public schools.
Tickets are $5 at www.townhallseattle.org. For more information, visit www.townhallseattle.org.
