other

Please help FairTest honor this year's Deborah Meier "Hero in Education" awardees -- Massachusetts Teachers Association President Barbara Madeloni and Schott Foundation President John H. Jackson -- by buying tickets to the October 26 event or making a contribution to support assessment reform at:
https://fairtest.networkforgood.com/events/3235-fairtest-celebrates-john...

National NAEP History Test Deserves a "F" for Measuring Critical Thinking

Praising FairTest as "an incredibly vibrant and important organization that provides an essential service" -- and specifically citing these weekly updates -- former PBS education correspondent John Merrow posts FairTest Is Not a Footnote and urges readers to provide more financial support around our upco

Despite severe weather across the southern U.S., campaigns against standardized exam overkill and for better methods of assessment continue to accelerate. FairTest hopes all our allies in Texas, Florida and other states hit hard by hurricanes Harvey and Irma are safe and will soon be able to return to their effective assessment reform activism.

As school doors open after the Labor Day holiday, challenges to standardized testing misuse and overuse continue to accelerate across the U.S. -- make sure your assessment reform stories and resources are included in these weekly roundups by sending links to bobschaeffer@fairtest.org

National Senator Will Introduce Bill to Reduce Number of Federally Required Tests
http://missoulian.com/news/local/tester-again-seeks-to-reduce-the-number...

You can tell that a new school year is beginning across the U.S. by the surge in testing-related coverage -- this week's clips include news from 20 states as well as national overviews. FairTest is especially pleased that so many stories and columns include strong criticisms of standardized exam misuse and overuse, reflecting a growing consensus for assessment reform that is also revealed in recent public opinion polls. 

Hundreds of thousands of parents, students, educators and community leaders across the U.S. play important roles in the growing assessment reform movement.  This fall, FairTest will celebrate two national leaders in the struggle against high-stakes testing and for educational justice: Schott Foundation President John H. Jackson and Mass. Teachers Association President Barbara Madeloni.

A broad range of voices -- from parents and teachers to scholars and researchers to legislators and governors -- continue to speak out against testing overuse and misuse. As the assessment reform movement grows, it has an ever-increasing impact on public policy, particularly at the district and state level.

Arkansas State to End "Gotcha" School Grades
http://www.nwaonline.com/news/2017/aug/13/gotcha-grades-out-for-schools-...

Colorado Feds Criticize Proposal to Ignore Test Opt-Outs in State ESSA Plan

This week's many stories of K-12 assessment reform progress through state ESSA plans and school districts slashing standardized exam requirements are offset by examples of ongoing testing overkill.

Disputes between states and the U.S. Department of Education over Every Student Succeeds Act testing and score reporting requirements under state are accelerating.  Assessment reformers are seeking inclusion of provisions that fulfill the new law's promised flexibility without federal micromanagement. In jurisdictions still working on compliance plans, there are still opportunities to press for fewer standardized exams and a reduction of high-stakes.  

Believe it or not, we're on the verge of another school year.  Classrooms in several southern states, including Florida, welcome students back in barely two weeks.  Fortunately, children (and teachers) in many jurisdictions will face fewer standardized exams and less high-stakes testing in 2017-2018 because of the mounting successes of the grassroots assessment reform movement.  This week's news clips report more signs of progress.