OMSC Meeting Announcement

Bethel International United Methodist Church
1220 Bethel Road
Columbus, OH 43221

Please join us for this important meeting.  In addition to the usual updates on state-level education activity, Greg Young, Superintendent of Ross School District, will present "Standards Based Instruction Instruction in a Personalized Setting." Ross is a district that is having success in implementing standards and on state assessments. The information in this presentation will provide background for small group work.

We will ask participants to work in one of four small groups to develop products designed to advance mathematics and science teaching and learning in Ohio.  The working groups are:

• Professional Development
• Formative Assessment
• Communicating with Non-educators about Mathematics and Science Education
• Long-Term Educational Improvement:  Getting Beyond Reactionary Mode.

The Ohio Mathematics and Science Coalition has recently developed and disseminated a position statement that has been endorsed by several mathematics and science groups in the state, including the Ohio Council of Teachers of Mathematics and the Science Education Council of Ohio. This paper is part of a larger agenda that focuses on helping policy makers and others understand the need to delineate the purposes for assessment and is the first example of our efforts to coalesce the mathematics and science education communities to speak in one voice to our policy makers about important issues.

It is intended that the working group efforts will result in concrete products, either  position statements or communication materials.

OMSC Principles from Finding the Solution

1. Implement Learning Standards
2. Implement Research-based Curricula and Assessments
3. Empower Qualified Teachers
4. Commit to shared accountability and responsibility
5. Align the System

Assessment continues to be controversial-

"I had never imagined that the test would someday be turned into a blunt instrument to close schools — or to say whether teachers are good teachers or not — because I always knew children's test scores are far more complicated than the way they're being received today.     ~Diane Ravitch

Arne Duncan on PISA Exam: We’re Seeing a “Picture of Educational Stagnation”

The 45th PDK/Gallup Poll reports:

1. Fewer than 25% of Americans believe increased testing has helped the performance of local public schools.
2. A majority of Americans reject using student test scores from standardized tests to evaluate teachers.
3. Almost 66% of Americans have never heard of the Common Core Standards.

Don’t miss this opportunity for learning and dialoging about that information with peers.

Why should you come?  One of the single most important issues in education today is assessment. It is not only discussed and debated in professional journals and newsletters, faculty lounges, and in on-campus seminars—it is a big topic in the popular media.  What is the truth?  What tests are given?  What do we learn from them?  Who thinks they are necessary? 

OMSC is an advocacy group dedicated to the continuous improvement of mathematics and science education in Ohio.  Should OMSC take an advocacy position about assessment in Ohio? What should that position be?  As professionals interested in and knowledgeable about assessment, what information can we provide to policy makers?

At the May 30, 2014 meeting, presenters will look closely at some of the most important tests, PISA, TIMSS, NAEP, PARCC, SAT/ACT, ACCUPLACER/COMPASS, that some Ohio students take—or could take.

For each test they will explain what is tested, who is tested, examine the results of the tests and most importantly, talk about what the results mean.  Many of us are generally familiar with tests but may not understand fully all of the details.

There will be opportunities for questions and discussion – and these will help OMSC develop an advocacy position to be shared with policy makers.