Testing Resistance & Reform News: April 26 - May 2, 2017

Arizona New School Rating System Relies Less on Testing
http://tucson.com/news/local/education/new-arizona-school-rating-system-relies-less-on-testing-emphasizes/article_49631721-7643-50c0-83f5-3a6df2a25393.html

Connecticut Standardized Test Data Still Too "Squishy" for Teacher Evaluations
http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/archives/entry/op-ed_standardized_test_data_still_too_squishy_for_teacher_evaluations/

Florida Assessment Reformers Hopeful That Legislative Package Brings Meaningful Testing Changes
http://staugustine.com/news/local-news/2017-04-27/fewer-better-tests-bills-form-education-trains-push-different-agendas
Florida Teacher Bonuses Based on Old ACT/SAT Scores Is a Silly Policy
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/opinion/commentary/fl-viewpoint-florida-teachers-best-and-brightest-20170426-story.html

Georgia Are State Tests Inappropriate for Young Children
http://getschooled.blog.myajc.com/2017/04/23/georgia-milestones-are-state-tests-inappropriate-for-young-students/

Illinois Lawmakers Look to Ease Teacher Licensure Testing Requirements
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/teacherbeat/2017/04/illinois_lawmakers_look_to_overhaul_teacher_licensure_testing_requirements.html

Maryland Cap Placed on Standardized Testing
http://www.wusa9.com/news/local/maryland/cap-placed-on-standardized-testing-in-maryland/435916902

Massachusetts School Committee Debates Opt-Out Policy
http://somerville.wickedlocal.com/news/20170425/somerville-school-committee-discuss-necessity-for-students-opting-out-of-mcas

Mississippi Will Testing Technology Be Able to Handle the Load?
https://djournal.com/news/districts-balance-funding-tech-testing/

New Jersey Student Says PARCC Testing Takes Joy Out of Learning
http://www.app.com/story/opinion/columnists/2017/04/27/parcc-testing-jessica-langer/100987138/

New York Opting Out a Way for Parents to Make a Statement
http://www.fltimes.com/opinion/opting-out-a-way-for-parents-to-make-a-statement/article_9f6cb846-2d2f-11e7-9923-d72464a4220d.html
New York Assessing Student Progress Without Standardized Tests
https://mets2006.wordpress.com/2017/04/25/how-would-we-assess-student-progress-without-standardized-tests/
New York Explosive Growth for Test-Grading Business
http://www.newsday.com/business/test-grading-business-helps-lynbrook-firm-double-revenues-in-5-years-1.13534415

Ohio Local Officials Say Students Take Too Many Standardized Exams
http://www.toledoblade.com/Education/2017/04/30/Students-tested-too-much-local-officials-say.html
Ohio Standardized Testing Takes Up Too Much Classroom Time
http://www.dispatch.com/opinion/20170428/letter-standardized-tests-too-time-consuming

Oregon Opt-Out Movement Forces Evaluation of State Tests
http://klcc.org/post/evaluating-state-state-tests
Oregon Smarter Balanced High School Tests Eliminated
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/high_school_and_beyond/2017/05/oregon_to_drop_smarter_balanced_in_high_school.html

Pennsylvania We May Finally Be Ending The Testing Obsession
http://www.pennlive.com/opinion/2017/04/put_down_your_pencils_-_its_ti.html
Pennsylvania Standardized Exam Reform Legislation Gets Broad Support
http://www.publicnewsservice.org/2017-04-27/education/bills-to-reform-standardized-testing-get-broad-support/a57456-2
Pennsylvania Student Says: Stop the Incessant Testing and Focus on Education
http://www.buckscountycouriertimes.com/opinion/guest/stop-the-testing-and-focus-on-education/article_4e38cdc4-d033-59a5-a8cc-64b3012e96e3.html

South Carolina Professor Says Students Are Over-Tested, Over-Stressed
http://wbtw.com/2017/05/02/professor-says-schools-overtesting-south-carolina-students/

Tennessee Matt Damon Narrates New Documentary About State Testing Problems
http://www.chalkbeat.org/posts/tn/2017/04/27/matt-damons-latest-role-the-voice-of-an-education-documentary-featuring-tennessee-testing/

Texas Standardized Exam Season Begins As "Teaching Over Testing Act" Moves Through Legislature
http://kxan.com/2017/05/01/as-bill-to-reduce-standardized-tests-is-debated-staar-testing-begins/ 
Texas Legislators Move to Knock Out Whatever Teeth STAAR Tests Have Left
https://www.dallasnews.com/news/education/2017/04/25/will-texas-continue-scaling-back-dependence-staar-tests

Virginia The Promise of ESSA to Reduce Test Stress
http://neatoday.org/2017/04/26/the-promise-of-essa-in-reducing-test-stress/

Washington Grad Testing Requirements Considered in Special Legislative Session
http://www.king5.com/news/education/hundreds-wont-graduate-without-special-session-action/434389674

International British Members of Parliament Say Tests Are Too Stressful for Many Pupils
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4461400/SATs-stressful-pupils-say-MPs.html

University Admissions How a Little Known Standardized Test Harms Community College Students
http://washingtonmonthly.com/2017/04/17/how-a-little-known-standardized-test-harms-community-college-students/

Worth Reading Is There Really a Link Between Test Scores and America's Economic Future?
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2017/04/27/is-there-really-a-link-between-test-scores-and-americas-economic-future/
Worth Reading Computerized Test Design Can Hurt Young Children's Scores
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/DigitalEducation/2017/04/computer_based_tests_young_students_research.html
Worth Reading Every Child Can Learn -- Just Not in the Same Way
http://www.kentucky.com/opinion/op-ed/article147016649.html