other

Response to the coronavirus pandemic dominates this week's testing news, just as it does for other major activities.  As this collection of articles makes clear, there's no excuse for compelling children to sit for standardized exams in this risky environment.

With the spring 2020 public school testing season on the horizon, more parents, educators, and community organizers are considering opting out from standardized exams as a tactic to advance assessment reform.  Be sure to check out FairTest's resources on this topic:

Though many states are cutting back on standardized exam overkill, there are still frequent reports of test cheating, inappropriate high-stakes, and narrowed curriculum, along with stressed out kids (and educators). It's time for K-12 policymakers to replace failed requirements with better forms of assessment just as their higher education colleagues are doing with ACT/SAT-optional undergraduate policies and GRExit graduate admissions.

National Three Seasons of the School Year: Learning, Test Prep, Testing

Cutbacks in the number of standardized tests . . . elimination of high-stakes exam requirements . . .  implementation of performance assessments  -- across the U.S., assessment reformers are winning major policy victories and promoting alternatives that advance better teaching and learning.

Colorado Students Take Advantage of Multiple Pathways to High School Graduation

Anyone who believes that test-and-punish policies are primarily about "reforming" education, not a mix of politics and ideology, should read this week's news clips.  In the K-12 arena, many assessment requirements are faith-based, rather than evidence-driven.  Fortunately, colleges and universities, where data and mission still guide decisions, continue to lead the way beyond reliance on standardized exam scores.

Arizona Governor's Inaccurate Statements About Test Scores Advance Ideological Agenda

Growing grassroots assessment reform pressure is forcing policy makers in many states to review -- and in many cases roll back -- high-stakes testing requirements.  Top priorities include eliminating graduation exam mandates, de-linking teacher evaluations from student scores, and overhauling test-based school grading systems.  Watch this space for announcements of more victories!

Florida Solving the Standardized Testing Conundrum

As grassroots pressure forces more and more policy makers to recognize the failure of test-driven "school reform," there's a sharp uptick in the number of jurisdictions rolling back standardized exam requirements.  Parents, educators, and other activists need to keep the heat on their elected representative to eliminate test overuse and misuse.

National The "Education Reform" Movement Has Failed America

FairTest is pleased to announce that well-known testing expert Akil Bello has joined our assessment reform team. He will enhance our capacity to win more victories in rolling back standardized testing misuse and overuse while promoting better forms of assessment. You can now reach Akil at akil@fairtest.org

National After Two Decades of Testing Obsession, Scant Progress in Ensuring Bright Prospects for All Students

Most 2020 state legislative sessions are now underway.  Let your representatives know that it's time to roll back standardized exam mandates to the federal minimum and stop test score misuses for grade promotion, high school graduation, district rankings, teacher bonuses and the like. This is an election year, so public officials are paying particular attention to voters' concerns!

Arizona School Grades Don't Tell the Whole Story

With 2020 state legislative sessions getting underway in many states, it's the right time for educators, community leaders and grassroots activists to press their representatives to roll back testing misuse and overuse.  Check out the assessment reform policy initiatives already in play in several jurisdictions in this week's news clips.

National Bernie Sanders and Mike Pence Opposed "No Child Left Behind" for Very Different Reasons