Community Forum Set for Feb. 22

Two years ago, public school superintendents met in Columbus and initiated a grassroots movement to provide Ohioans with a stronger voice in shaping statewide education policy.  Since then, the Ohio Public School Advocacy Network has grown to include more than 140 school districts across the state.  On February 22, the Avon City School District is hosting a Community Forum to provide citizens in northeast Ohio with an opportunity to help shape the local response to a new federal law, called the Every Student Succeeds Act, giving states more flexibility in creating educational standards for our public schools.  One of the items to be discussed will be a recommendation from area school superintendents and curriculum directors to make changes in Ohio’s plan for high stakes student testing.  Currently, the testing system being proposed by the Ohio Department of Education includes seven more high stakes tests than are required by federal law.  In addition, the tests now being administered cannot be effectively used to help students learn because the results are not reported in a timely manner and the test data do not identify learning gaps that can be used to provide them with remedial support.  The Community Forum is set for 7 p.m. at Avon High School, 37545 Detroit Road in Avon.