New CEA TV Ad Steps Up Campaign Against Unreliable Testing

Many CEA members are featured in a new commercial about the problems with unreliable testing.

Teachers are turning up the volume on the problem of unreliable testing that has overtaken Connecticut public school classrooms.

“We are airing new TV and digital ads that raise awareness—from parents to policymakers—about the need to reduce testing and test prep and restore more time for learning in our classrooms to help every student achieve,” said CEA President Sheila Cohen.

“As Connecticut’s largest teacher organization, we have stepped up and spoken out consistently about the problems associated with the SBAC test. Now we are taking our efforts to a new level with our advertising campaign,” she said.

Connecticut teachers are relentless in their focus on student growth and achievement despite the state’s ill-advised and misguided support of the unfair, invalid, and unreliable SBAC test.

The commercial focuses on how one teacher can impact a child’s life and together teachers inspire a generation of Connecticut students and help every child achieve. The ad features teachers from across the state interacting with students in the classroom showing how teachers inspire a love of learning in their students.

The script reminds the public that teachers on the front lines of education are doing all they can to help every single student succeed, despite unreliable SBAC testing that takes precious teaching and learning time away from students.

The television ad will start airing this weekend, including during 60 minutes, NCAA men’s and women’s basketball, the American Country Music Awards, and the Figure Skating Championships. Starting next week, it will be on all major networks during the morning and evening news, as well as during a number of other shows. The digital ads will be on online news sites through the month of April.