Testing Resistance & Reform News: April 1 – 7, 2020

Pressure from parents, educators and community leaders has now forced policy makers in all 50 states to apply for and receive waivers from federal testing requirements. But some jurisdictions still need to act to suspend their own standardized exam mandates for high school exit exams, grade promotion, teacher evaluation and similar (mis-)uses. If any standardized tests are still required in your state this spring, tell your elected officials, allies, and the news media to cancel them ASAP! — feel free to contact FairTest for help.

At the same time, more than 50 colleges and universities have adopted ACT/SAT-optional policies for current high school juniors. Several dozen more have suspended testing requirements for admission this summer and fall.

The rapid changes in testing requirements has generated a sharp spike in traffic to www.fairtest.org to take advantage of our assessment reform resources. Last week, we hosted more than 23,000 visitors who viewed online 50,000+ pages. We’ve also done dozens of media interviews from NPR and the Washington Post to Fortune and Teen Vogue. Please help give FairTest the capacity to meet this surge in demand by making the largest donation you can. Either go to https://fairtest.org.org/donate, click this button

Donate to FairTest
or mail your check to FairTest, 196 Spring Street, Arlington, MA 02476

Many thanks for all you do — stay safe and healthy!

National All States Now Have Waivers From Federally-Mandated Exams for This School Year, But Many Must Address Local Test Requirements
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2020/04/coronvirus-no-state-testing-essa.html

Florida Governor Waiver Covers Only Some State Testing Requirements
https://accountabaloney.com/index.php/2020/04/01/governor-waives-statewide-testing-requirements-for-some/

Kentucky State Education Dept. Considering Waiver of Civics Test Graduation Requirement
https://www.wymt.com/content/news/Kentuckys-Department-of-Education-talks-graduating-seniors-and-NTI-days-569259951.html

Maine All Statewide Testing Cancelled but District Can Administer Local Tests
https://bangordailynews.com/2020/03/31/news/state/maine-cancels-annual-standardized-tests-after-getting-feds-approval/

Massachusetts Cancel State Graduation Test: Call Your Legislator Now — Action Alert!
https://actionnetwork.org/forms/suspend-mcas-2020-call-your-lawmakers

Minnesota All State and Federal Test Mandates Cancelled for Year
https://bringmethenews.com/minnesota-news/coronavirus-mca-tests-canceled-for-the-rest-of-the-school-year

Mississippi End-of-Course Test Graduation Requirements Waived for This Year
https://www.redhillsmsnews.com/front-page-slideshow-news/state-school-board-suspends-key-policies-every-district-webster

New York State Cancels June Regents Tests
https://chalkbeat.org/posts/ny/2020/04/06/new-york-cancels-june-regents-exams-due-to-coronavirus/

North Carolina Use Break From Testing to Evaluate Teacher Bonus Program
https://www.wfae.org/post/nc-education-official-use-break-testing-evaluate-teacher-bonus-program

Tennessee Under Emergency Law, “On Track” Students Will Graduate without Civics Test
https://chalkbeat.org/posts/tn/2020/04/02/what-to-do-about-the-class-of-2020-and-other-big-decisions-await-tennessee-board-of-education-as-lee-signs-emergency-law/

Texas Schools Won’t Receive “A-to-F” Grades This Year
https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/article241731036.html

Utah State School Board Waives Some Exam Requirements, But Legislature Must Act to Suspend Civics Tests
https://www.deseret.com/utah/2020/4/2/21205822/coronavirus-covid-19-pandemic-school-closures-education-students-home-board-waivers

Virginia Homeschoolers Still Have to Test Despite Waivers for Public School Students
https://www.godanriver.com/news/local/while-public-schools-get-waivers-home-schoolers-still-required-to-test/article_a2192e21-57fd-5e08-8834-2ec7f65c49b5.html

University Admissions Entire California University System Eliminates ACT/SAT Requirement for at Least One Year
https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2020/04/01/university-california-suspends-admission-testing-requirements-because-coronavirus-pandemic/
University Admissions Many More Colleges Go ACT/SAT Optional After Spring Tests Called Off
https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/04/01/825304555/colleges-go-test-optional-after-sat-act-are-called-off
University Admission Updated Master List of 1,100+ Test-Optional Colleges and Supplemental Files
https://fairtest.org.org/university/optional

Worth Reading Rethinking K-12 “Accountability” Post-Epidemic
https://www.forbes.com/sites/petergreene/2020/04/05/rethinking-accountability-for-k-12-education-post-pandemic/?ss=education#42d5b7fe4a9c
Worth Reading Test Cancellations Threaten Pearson’s Profits
https://www.pearson.com/news-and-research/announcements/2020/03/pearson-covid-19-and-current-trading-update.html

Bob Schaeffer, interim Executive Director
FairTest: National Center for Fair & Open Testing
office- (239) 395-6773 mobile- (239) 699-0468
web- http://www.fairtest.org

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