Testing Resistance & Reform News: April 12 - 18, 2017

California High Schools Turning to Portfolios to Assess Academic Performance
https://edsource.org/2017/high-schools-turning-to-student-portfolios-to-assess-academic-progress/580147

Florida Who Is Responsible for Over-Testing? State or Districts
http://www.naplesnews.com/story/opinion/editorials/2017/04/13/editorial-dont-select-wrong-answer-tests-question/100413068/

Indiana Legislature Urged to Decouple Teacher Evaluation From Student Tests
http://www.heraldbulletin.com/news/statehouse-committee-asked-to-decouple-student-testing-and-teacher-evaluation/article_d81247cc-1fad-11e7-8d43-dbe4924e7014.html

Maryland Big Assessment Reform Victories as Legislature Adjourns
https://mseanewsfeed.com/public-education-is-a-big-winner-as-the-general-assembly-adjourns-sine-die-93b79de501f2

Massachusetts School Committee Supports Opt-Out Parents, Seeks Alternatives to Tests
http://www.cambridgeday.com/2017/04/10/discomfort-over-mcas-and-resistance-remains-as-officials-ponder-alternatives/
Massachusetts More Parents Opt Children Out of High-Stakes Tests
http://somerville.wickedlocal.com/news/20170413/somerville-parents-opt-children-out-of-high-stakes-mcas-testing

Michigan Politicians Should Listen to Opt-Out Parents
http://www.freep.com/story/opinion/columnists/nancy-kaffer/2017/04/13/opt-out-tests-detroit/100333018/

Mississippi Is Repeating Third Grade -- Again and Again -- Good for Kids?
http://hechingerreport.org/repeating-third-grade-good-kids/
Mississippi Joy of Learning is Victim of Test-Score Mania
http://www.cdispatch.com/opinions/article.asp?aid=57577

Nebraska Third Grade Test-Based Retention Bill is "Nuts"
http://www.theindependent.com/opinion/another_opinion/bill-would-force-schools-to-flunk-third-graders/article_a2602e56-215f-11e7-9b94-a3c1d1636621.html

New Hampshire Early Research Shows Positive Results for Performance Assessment 
http://www.concordmonitor.com/is-PACE-working-initial-results-are-out-9235476

New York Governor Backs Away From Tough Talk on Test-Driven School "Reform"
http://buffalonews.com/2017/04/11/cuomo-cools-off-tough-talk-school-reforms/
New York State Scraps Plan to Raise Test Passing Scores
http://www.wgrz.com/news/ny-scraps-higher-test-scores/430991756
New York Teacher Refusing Tests Will Force Reforms
http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/opinion/refusing-tests-will-compel-needed-changes-20170417

North Dakota Legislature Passes Bill Allowing Parents to Opt Children Out of Tests
http://www.kfyrtv.com/content/news/Passed-bill-allows-parents-to-opt-students-out-of-testing-419507793.html

Ohio State Moves Toward Graduation Testing Moratorium
http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/developing-today-ohio-students-may-not-have-pass-tests-for-graduation/oyQawJlwUP99KKhbNe4nHJ/
Ohio Bill Would Kill Common Core and Statewide Tests
http://www.wkyc.com/news/education/bill-would-kill-common-core-state-tests/431284141

Pennsylvania Rethinking Standardized Tests
http://www.publicopiniononline.com/story/opinion/2017/04/12/rethinking-standardized-tests-school/100365182/
Pennsylvania Testing Makes Schools Focus on the "Urgent" Rather Than the "Important"
http://www.berksmontnews.com/general-news/20170413/pssa-q-amp-a-with-hamburg-superintendent-dr-richard-j-mextorf

Rhode Island State Drops PARCC, Adopts Massachusetts Test
http://www.providencejournal.com/news/20170413/ri-adopting-mass-test-to-measure-student-performance-ditching-parcc

South Carolina Value-Added Measurement Teacher Ratings Will Not Work
http://www.postandcourier.com/opinion/commentary/ccsd-plan-for-teachers-won-t-work/article_b63dfaea-1e0b-11e7-99da-572fc6387d7f.html

Texas Senate Panel Weighs Extending Alternatives to Graduation Exam
https://www.dallasnews.com/news/education/2017/04/12/failed-thestaar-test-texas-may-allow-permanent-panels-giving-seniors-second-shot-graduation
Texas Bill Would Require Transparency About Testing-Related Costs
http://www.mystatesman.com/news/opinion/commentary-1336-plan-for-staar-testing-that-deserves-support/dGpEls9qYXc2Q4CYgebm0L/

International Puerto Rico Federation of Teachers Says Pearson Tests Are Fraudulent
https://www.periodicolaperla.com/federacion-maestros-tilda-fraudulentas-las-pruebas-meta-pr/

University Admissions ACT/SAT Optional List Tops 950 Despite Test-Makers' Attacks
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2017/04/12/the-list-of-test-optional-colleges-and-universities-keeps-growing-despite-college-boards-latest-jab/
University Admissions Comprehensive Database of Test-Optional and Test-Flexible Schools
http://fairtest.org/university/optional

International United Kingdom Educators Overwhelmingly Vote to Explore Primary School Test Boycott
https://www.tes.com/news/school-news/breaking-news/atl-votes-overwhelmingly-explore-sats-boycott

Worth Reading Let's Prepare Students for the Real World, Not Test-Taking
https://www.edsurge.com/news/2017-04-16-let-s-prepare-students-for-the-world-not-tests