You might be tired of testing, and maybe your students are as well. Even those who teach non-tested grades and courses experience drastic changes in routines and stress levels when testing begins each year. When interruptions occur and meticulously planned test sessions are disrupted, teacher confidence and student achievement suffer. Then results arrive, prompting celebration, relief, disappointment, and a range of other responses.

There is growing consensus in Virginia that though accountability is important, testing has gone too far. Teachers, students, parents, administrators, policymakers, and even employers are telling us that the testing burden is actually limiting rather than supporting effective teaching and learning. We have written here before about work in the General Assembly, the Board of Education, and the SOL Innovation Committee to bring a more balanced assessment and accountability system to Virginia. As you shift into your summer schedule, we hope you'll stay informed about these efforts. Important steps are being taken now by the Board of Education, as they make short-term adjustments to the Standards of Accreditation and prepare for a more comprehensive review. They will have an multiple open comment periods. In the next few weeks, our legislators will begin to prioritize their education proposals for the next General Assembly session. They need to hear about experiences you've had that can influence these proposals. The Innovation Committee receives ideas and feedback through Secretary of Education Anne Holton's office at education1@governor.virginia.gov.