The Summit County Superintendents Association have written to the Interim State Superintendent, challenging the results of recent PARCC tests. Here's there letter:

Dear Dr. Rivera:

We are dedicated to providing the best education possible for the students we serve. This is our purpose. As such, we welcome transparency and accountability.

There is significant concern however among school districts regarding the recently released state report card. We believe the recent testing results do not reflect the quality of education being offered in our school districts.

We strongly challenge the validity of the recently published testing results.

This validity concern is exemplified by the fact that the overall value added grade distribution of the districts that took the test using paper and pencil vs. those districts that took the test online are profoundly different.

o A significant number of school districts that took the test online had test scores that plummeted.

o A significant number of school districts that took the test with paper and pencil had excellent test scores.

o This makes no sense.

This validity concern is also demonstrated by the fact that current testing penalizes school districts for promoting college and career readiness programs. It forces school districts to choose between looking good on a report card OR providing opportunities for students. This makes no sense.

o This is exemplified by school districts that had accelerated middle school students take tests at the high school level, what was best for the students. In such circumstances, the testing falsely showed the middle schools as plummeting in performance.

The validity is finally called into question by the Governor’s Office itself, which declared due to test inconsistencies that students and school personnel may not be evaluated based upon the results.

We are further concerned about the inconsistency of the testing from year to year. The inconsistency causes significant negative issues and confusion for our personnel and our district’s citizens.

The state has asked us to invest in technology to support online testing. We are asking the state address inconsistencies in the existing testing system.

Again, we welcome transparency and accountability. We embrace our purpose, which is to provide the best education possible for the students we serve. We desire to be a part of a constructive solution and offer our support in creating that solution.

We look forward to a dialog so we may work together.

Members of the Summit County Superintendents’ Association