School Board Attacks Tests, Seeks Meeting

'Chaíging that the Michigan Assessment Program for 4th and 7th graders does not provide true accountability of educational achievement, the Ann Arbor Board of Education this weekend returned t h e completed tests and requested a formal meeting with the State Board of Education at its earliest convenience. In a letter to the state board, signed by Board President Harold Lockett and Superintendent of Schools Dr. W. Scott Westerman, the following concerns and doubts were expressed about the state assessment program: - There are no stated eduI cational goals and outcomes I toward which the assessment could measure progress. - Some of the socio-economic questions are humanely insensitive and tend to produce unreliable answers. - The release of technical scores to the public without meaningful explanation can only créate confusión and misunderstanding. -The information received through the assessment is inadequate and redundant, and does n o t contribute toward nceded educational direction. I Following these doubts and' [concerns, the letter concludes [with the suggestions that clear and measurable 1 ments of educational objectives be developed, and that an advisory group made up of citizens, educators and I lators be appointed as I natives to the present I comings of the Michigan I Assessment Program.