Teachers at Saucedo Scholastic Academy in Little Village announced Tuesday they will not administer the Illinois Standard Achievement Test to their students.
The teachers don't feel the time it takes to prepare students for the test and administer it, is worth it.
"We have spent over 10 days of instructional time testing, including, but not limited to reach assessment, benchmark, access testing, and so on and so forth. If we include ISAT testing, it will be more than 20 days of instructional time. I'm not gonna do that to my students," teacher America Olmedo said.
"I've seen students pull out their eyelashes over this test from anxiety and run out of the room," teacher Sarah Chambers said.
The test will be given to elementary school students for the last time next month, another reason the teachers don't want to administer it. Scores won't count for school ratings, advancement to the next grade, selective enrollment admission and teacher and principal evaluations.
"I say it takes one to two weeks of instructional time, and it is absurd. The test is not used for anything," Olmedo said.
Chicago parent group Parents-4-Teachers said in a statement Tuesday they support teachers who are refusing to administer the test because the teachers will waste two weeks of instruction time on a "worthless test."
Officials say although the No Child Left Behind law requires schools to administer the ISAT, students can choose not to take it.
Teachers say they know they know there will likely be repercussions for their actions, but they're willing to deal with them for their kids.
