A Growing Concern Among Policymakers

Last evening, the leadership team for the Mayfield Public School Advocacy Network hosted a two-hour discussion with its State Senator, State Representative and Ohio Department of Education Board Member.  The conversation was friendly and cordial but also very open and frank.  For me, one of the most important takeaways from the meeting was it appears that some, if not many, of our state’s policymakers understand the negative impact of high stakes state testing and the growing sense of urgency to do something about it.  In fact, when I asked the three statewide policymakers point blank how widespread the awareness of the testing problem is, they said, “very widespread.”  Mayfield is one of 10 school districts participating in a pilot initiative to provide Ohio’s citizens an opportunity to discuss and help shape statewide education policy.