SAMPLE LEGISLATIVE LETTER



Dear :

I am writing to urge you to change the current laws regarding the mandatory MCAS testing of fourth, eighth and tenth grade students and to do away with the law requiring that students pass the 10th grade tests to receive their high school diploma.

I believe strongly in public education and its value to our communities and our democracy. I also support efforts to raise the level of achievement of all students and schools where necessary. However, I do not believe that using the MCAS as the sole
means to measure whether students will graduate is fair or sensible, or that using the test to punish or reward schools will achieve higher standards of teaching and learning. Too many students will be harmed under this testing plan while the test will
fail to inspire authentic reform in our schools.

I am concerned about these pressing and unresolved issues:

- the unfair denial of life opportunities for thousands of students who fail a single exam
- increasing student drop out rates
- the loss of electives and/or high quality teaching in our schools due to test preparation
- time taken from real learning for test preparation and for students to take the exam
- the high proficiency of English required in all subjects on the exam, and the unfairness of using such a test for students
currently acquiring English as a second language
- the negative impact upon children with learning style deficiencies or special health needs 
- the disproportionately high failure rate among African American and Latino students
- the imposition of the test upon students in vocational or arts programs 
- the lack of other measurements available to students to demonstrate their abilities 
- the infringement upon the right of parents to determine the best learning and teaching for their children
- the removal of decision making from our local teachers and administrators

I urge you to stop this high stakes test and chart a better course for school reform in our state. I have joined the Coalition for Authentic Reform in Education (CARE) due to their work to develop a better plan. We can start by creating a “comprehensive
assessment system” as called for in the Education Reform Act of 1993. I support using multiple assessments to measure student achievement and to hold schools accountable for improvement, and support the adoption of the Coalition for Authentic Reform in Education’s statewide accountability system.

We can do better than a one-shot test. But time is running out: soon thousands of high school students will face the consequences of this unfair exam. I ask for your support now!

Sincerely,
name, address, phone, E-mail