Battle Between CPS, CTU Over ISAT Tests Continues

By Chuck Sudo in News on Mar 4, 2014 11:00PM

The battle between Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Teachers Union over administering the Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT) continues. Teachers at Maria Saucedo Academy in Little Village made good on their promise to not administer the ISAT Monday.

Sarah Chambers, who teaches special education at the school, told the Sun-Times all the teachers were still in their classrooms Tuesday despite the threat of discipline from CPS CEO Barbara Byrd-Bennett. Teachers at Drummond Montessori School also voted to boycott the exam.

The school district spent the weekend robocalling parents detailing why it was important for their children to take an exam that’s being phased out next year. That didn’t stop parents of students at 74 other schools from opting their children out of taking the exam. Some of those parents held a news conference Monday at the Thompson Center and indicated school administrators were pressuring students who, with their parents’ permission, decided not to take the ISAT. But there are other parents who want their children to take the exam, including a handful who have stood watch outside Saucedo. Gloria Rodriguez accused Saucedo teachers of misinforming students about the ISAT and that they were intimidated to sign opt-out letters.

Karen Ami, who has a son attending Drummond, said she supports the teachers.

“I’m very proud of the school for choosing to not spend time testing and (instead) spending time educating,” Ami said, as she dropped off her son Tuesday. “The test is really good for practicing how to take tests, but it takes valuable time away from classroom learning.”

Previously
Teachers Stand Ground, Refuse To Administer ISAT Tests Despite Threats From CPS