What a week! A national poll concludes that a majority of parents are critical of standardized exam overkill; more minority parents, students and educators speak out against test misuse; yet another state’s computerized testing system collapses; and the opt-out movement continues to grow in breadth and depth. No wonder more state and local education policy-makers are beginning to heed the message: “Enough is enough!”
National Most Parents Say “Too Much Emphasis on Standardized Testing,” According to New Poll
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/lifestyle/education/most_…
National Race and the Standardized Testing Wars: More Minority Stakeholders Criticize Exams
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/04/24/opinion/sunday/race-and-the-standardiz…
National Pathways to New Accountability Through the Every Student Succeeds Act
https://learningpolicyinstitute.org/our-work/publications-resources/path…
Arizona Buyer Beware When it Comes to Conclusions Drawn From Test Scores
http://www.tucsonweekly.com/TheRange/archives/2016/04/22/buyer-beware-wh…
California Test-Based “Accountability” System Hurt Equity
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/on_california/2016/04/how_accountability_…
Connecticut A Failed Application of Standardized Testing
http://m.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Wendy-Lecker-A-failed-applica…
Connecticut Using Standardized Exam Scores to Evaluate Teachers Won’t Solve Anything
http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/archives/entry/op-ed_using_standardized_test…
Florida Parents Press for Opt-Out Rights Despite School District Push Back
http://news.wgcu.org/post/parents-and-districts-spar-over-right-opt-out-…
Florida Superintendent Sets Up Committee to Review Testing Opt-Out Protocols
http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/gradebook/pasco-schools-superintendent-pla…
Florida State’s Teacher Bonus Plan Deserves an “F”
http://www.news-journalonline.com/article/20160423/OPINION/160429771/101027
Georgia School Policies for Dealing With Opt Outs Vary
http://www.wrdw.com/home/headlines/Schools-handling-your-option-to-opt-o…
Georgia Schools Struggle with Computer Problems with Milestone Tests
http://www.ajc.com/news/news/local-education/schools-struggle-with-compu…
Idaho No Permission Form Needed to Opt Out of Testing
http://www.tetonvalleynews.net/news/parents-are-still-able-to-opt-out-of…
Indiana Parents Want Say in New State Testing Policy
http://www.thestarpress.com/story/news/education/2016/04/19/parents-want…
Indiana More Problems With ISTEP Computerized Testing
http://www.jconline.com/story/news/education/2016/04/21/istep-test-part-…
Iowa Why Low Test Scores Don’t Equate to Failing Schools
http://www.qconline.com/opinion/letters/letter-why-test-scores-don-t-equ…
Kentucky Less Testing, More Art in Proposed School Accountability Plan
http://www.courier-journal.com/story/news/education/2016/04/21/public-le…
Maryland School Board Considers Policy to Honor All Test Refusal Requests
http://www.fredericknewspost.com/news/education/schools/public_k-12/scho…
Massachusetts Demonstration Supports Opt-Out Movement
http://wbsm.com/parcc-demonstration-outside-new-bedford-school-departmen…
Massachusetts Teachers Speak Up Against Standardized Exams
http://cohasset.wickedlocal.com/article/20160425/NEWS/160428661
Massachusetts School Committee Member Refuses Standardized Testing for Her Child
http://valleypatriot.com/school-committeeman-refuses-standardized-testin…
Mississippi More to Learning Than Standardized Exams
http://www.jacksonfreepress.com/news/2016/apr/20/more-learning-standardi…
Mississippi Test-Prep is Widespread for State Exams
http://djournal.com/news/teachers-prepare-students-for-testing-in-variet…
Missouri Tests Can Be Flawed Learning Indicators
http://www.news-leader.com/story/opinion/columnists/david-hough/2016/04/…
New Jersey State’s PARCC Test Joins Growing List of Computer Exams Plagued by Technical Failures
http://www.nj.com/education/2016/04/nj_parcc_joins_growing_list_of_exams…
New Jersey How Pearson Plans to Avoid Another Testing Crash
http://www.nj.com/education/2016/04/pearson_parcc_test_crash.html
New Jersey Why PARCC Testing Should Not Be Required for Graduation
https://www.tapinto.net/towns/chatham/categories/letters-to-the-editor/a…
Ohio Standardized Tests Don’t Accurately Measure Academic Strength
http://www.thepostathens.com/opinion/ed-talks-standardized-tests-don-t-a…
Ohio Value-Added School Rating Process May Be Evaluated
http://www.dispatch.com/content/stories/local/2016/04/26/ohio-legislator…
Oklahoma Parents Opt Students Out of State Testing
http://ktul.com/news/local/parents-opt-students-out-of-state-testing
Oregon Students Again Opt Out En Masse
http://pamplinmedia.com/lor/48-news/303512-181388-lohs-students-again-op…
Pennsylvania Opt-Out Growth Shows Need for Testing Overhaul
http://lancasteronline.com/opinion/editorials/as-more-students-opt-out-i…
Pennsylvania Time to End Testing Season’s Damaging Impact on Public Schools
http://www.ldnews.com/story/opinion/2016/04/21/s-standardized-testing-se…
Pennsylvania Should Judge Schools Based on Inspections, Not Test Scores
http://thephiladelphiacitizen.org/ideas-we-should-steal-judging-schools-…
South Carolina District Requires Children to Reaffirm Parents Decision to Opt Out
http://www.conservativesoftheupstate.com/2016/04/school-district-of-pick…
Tennessee State Exam Fails Test for Third Time
http://www.t-g.com/story/2298530.html
Tennessee TNReady Has Been a Complete Disaster
http://www.knoxnews.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/tnready-has-been-a…
Texas District Finds Flaws in State Test Grading
https://www.texasobserver.org/lewisville-staar-test-scores-zero-ets/
Texas Union Sues to Block Test-Based Teacher Evaluation Law
http://www.statesman.com/news/news/union-sues-to-block-texas-teacher-eva…
ACT/SAT Whittier College Adopts Test-Optional Policy
http://www.whittierdailynews.com/social-affairs/20160421/your-bad-sat-sc…
ACT/SAT Impact of New Khan Academy Test Prep Program is Unproven
http://edsource.org/2016/khan-academy-college-board-create-an-sat-practi…
The Miseducation of Democrats for Education Reform
https://jamaalabowman.wordpress.com/2016/04/15/the-mis-education-of-shav…
How High-Stakes Testing Inhibits K-12 Innovation
https://www.edsurge.com/news/2016-04-20-reassessing-the-assessment-has-h…
Don’t Wait For an Act of Congress to Speak Out on Testing
http://www.npr.org/sections/ed/2016/04/20/474369584/a-union-firebrand-sp…
Network for Public Education Teacher Evaluation Infographic
http://networkforpubliceducation.org/2016/04/6460/