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Home > About CES > Testing Statement
About this Action Kit
CES National believes that our stand opposing standardized high-stakes tests can have significant reach and influence with policymakers, parents, educators, and members of the general public. Therefore, we have designed this tool kit to help those who endorse the statement to spread the word among important audiences in their own communities.
We invite you to get involved and to use any of the following tools to take a stand locally. Try to time your efforts to coincide with events happening in your community, such as testing week at your school, the release of test scores in your district, or exhibition/celebration days at your CES school. You may also want to offer your perspective on national events or testing-related announcements to local media outlets.
Sign Our Petition
What is it? Signing a petition lets elected officials see that there are real people with real concerns behind these efforts. The more people who sign the petition, the more seriously it is taken by lawmakers.
How do I use it? Click below to join others across the CES Network to register your public opposition to high-stakes standardized tests and endorsement of authentic, appropriately accountable assessments.
SIGN OUR PETITION NOW!
Email to a Friend
What is it? Emailing a link to the statement to a friend, colleague, or other interested party increases the visibility of our support for performance-based assessments and opposition to high-stakes standardized tests.
How do I use it? Click on the link below and type in your friends' and colleagues' email addresses. Send it to as many people as you wish.
Untitled Document
EMAIL A FRIEND
Send a Press Release
What is it? Press releases are used to alert the media and the public to timely issues and events. They lay out the "who, what, where, when, why, and how" of a story. You can send press releases to newspapers, television stations, and radio outlets.
How do I use it? Tailor the press release to your local community, or create your own release using the template to publicize a relevant issue or event.
VIEW PRESS RELEASE TEMPLATE
Write a Letter to the Editor
What is it? Every day, newspapers publish several letters to the editor, written by members of the community around issues of local or national concern. Letters to the editor are an easy way to generate interest and awareness. They are normally very short (250 words or less) and to the point.
How do I use it? Personalize this sample letter and send it to the editor of your local newspaper. Or, write your own letter in response to an article or letter on a related topic.
VIEW OUR SAMPLE LETTER
Submit an Op-ed
What is it? Newspapers also publish longer articles submitted by those who have expertise in a particular area. These Opinion/Editorial pieces offer an educated viewpoint on current topics. Op-eds are generally 500-1000 words.
How do I use it? Adapt the sample Op-Ed with relevant examples from your organization or community, and send it to the editor(s) of your local paper. Be sure to ask for word count limitations.
VIEW OUR SAMPLE OP-ED
Call for a City Council or State Legislative Proclamation
What is it? Proclamations are a way for local, state, and federal governments to declare official observances in order to bring recognition to deserving people and issues.
How do I use it? Send the following "Better Testing Day" proclamation to your councilperson or state legislator and explain how this resolution is part of a coordinated activity designed to improve the way students and schools are assessed.
VIEW THE "BETTER TESTING DAY" PROCLAMATION
For more information about any of the contents of the tool kit, contact Abbey Kerins, akerins@essentialschools.org
Page last updated: May 19, 2004
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