2 LI districts express dissatisfaction with standardized tests

At least two Long Island school boards this week adopted resolutions detailing their dissatisfaction with the state's Common Core standardized testing.

A resolution in the Comsewoque district passed last Monday, followed by a similar one adopted in North Bellmore on Thursday.

The new state tests are scheduled from Tuesday to April 26 for students in grades 3 to 8. They are to be given to more than 1.3 million students statewide, including 210,000 on the Island.

In both resolutions, school board members agree the state testing is damaging to students and limiting to the educational curriculum. School districts are legally mandated to administer the tests.

"It feels like a big win for parents because it shows that our school district is listening to what the parents want," said Jeanette Deutermann, a North Bellmore mother who has led a standardized testing "opt-out" movement. Four weeks ago, Deutermann began a Facebook page offering information to parents about the new state tests.

As of Friday, the online page had more than 6,000 supporters. Deutermann said a recent poll showed some 300 families indicated they were going to boycott the tests.

"Parents who keep their children from taking these tests are essentially saying, 'I don't want to know where my child stands, in objective terms, on the path to college and career readiness' -- and we think that that's doing them a real disservice," said Dennis Tompkins, spokesman for the New York State Education Department.

Teachers' job evaluations also will be tied to their students' performance on the state tests.