What We Do
FairTest engages in the following activities:
Education of the public. FairTest serves as a unique source of information about testing and other forms of assessment for educators, parents, public officials, journalists and policymakers.
Advocacy. FairTest coordinates and catalyzes educators, citizen groups and parents to bring about needed assessment reforms. FairTest participates in campaigns to limit the amount of and use of standardized testing in K-12 education and college admissions.
Strategic Assistance. FairTest provides training and advice to parents, educators and a broad range of civil rights organizations about assessment reform.
Network development. FairTest helps connect stakeholders across the country in the fight against the abuses of standardized testing and towards more equitable and effective educational assessments.
K12 Initiatives
- The Assessment Reform Network aims to facilitate the exchange of information and ideas among teachers, parents, education reform and civil rights organizations seeking to improve student assessment practices in their communities.
- Promoting the use of authentic, performance-based assessments and classroom/school-based evidence gathered over time to improve teaching and learning and inform communities.
- Working with other groups in Testing Resistance and Reform Spring to help local activist builds their campaigns and link up with one another.
- Leading the national Forum on Educational Accountability, which seeks to overhaul the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act and related programs.
Higher Education Initiatives
- Advancing ‘test-score optional’ college admissions programs, including our listing of more than 800 such colleges.
- Supporting efforts to halt the misuse of student test scores in judging teachers and other educators.
- Uncovering the bias, misuses and coachability of the SAT, ACT and similar college entrance exams.
- Attacking the false notions that test scores equal merit.