Testing Resistance & Reform News: August 30 – September 5, 2017

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…

Alabama Should Schools be Evaluated by a Single Test Score?
http://www.al.com/opinion/index.ssf/2017/08/are_the_state_board_of_educa…

Alaska State Releases Draft ESSA Plan for Public Comment
http://www.alaskajournal.com/2017-08-30/state-release-draft-plan-every-s…

California Test Scores Delayed by Mix-Up in Learning Disabled Students’ Results
http://www.latimes.com/local/education/la-essential-education-updates-so…

Florida Opt-Out Leader Runs for School Board
http://www.theledger.com/news/20170828/former-teacher-files-for-polk-sch…

Louisiana What Happens When Test Scores Don’t Reflect Real Student Growth?
https://www.edsurge.com/news/2017-08-31-what-happens-when-standardized-t…

Michigan State Seeks Proposals for Shorter Test with Faster Results
http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/michigan/2017/08/29/mstep-sc…

Missouri Results From Two Statewide Tests Tossed Due to Technical Flaws
https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/missouri/articles/2017-08-30/res…
Missouri Education Officials Question Performance of Testing Contractor
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/education/missouri-education-official…

Nevada School Ratings Delayed Due to Flaws
https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/education/nevada-delays-new-star-rati…

New Jersey Educators Still Wary Over PARCC After ESSA Plan Approved
http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/education/new-jersey-s-essa-plan-appr…

New Mexico Time to End School Grading Scam
http://nmpoliticalreport.com/399635/time-to-end-school-grading/

New York Testing Opt-Out Battle Continues as New School Year Begins
http://www.recordonline.com/news/20170904/opt-out-battle-over-state-test…
New York Educators Remain Sour on Value of State Tests
http://www.adirondackdailyenterprise.com/news/local-news/2017/08/local-s…

Ohio Schools React to New High School Graduation Rules
http://www.mydaytondailynews.com/news/schools-adjust-the-fly-new-graduat…

Pennsylvania Reducing Testing Time is Good for Students and Learning
http://www.theintell.com/opinion/op-ed/reducing-standardized-test-taking…
Pennsylvania Education System Puts Too Much Weight on Test Scores
http://www.theintell.com/life-style/reality/opinion-education-system-pla…

Rhode Island Test Replacing PARCC Is Shorter But Similar
http://wpri.com/2017/09/04/ris-new-standardized-test-is-similar-to-parcc…

Texas Are We Too Focused on Standardized Testing?
http://www.wfaa.com/news/local/verify/verify-are-we-too-focused-on-stand…

Vermont Approved ESSA Plan Downplays Test Scores
https://vtdigger.org/2017/09/04/vermont-school-improvement-plan-gets-fed…

Virginia Students May Need to Pass Fewer Tests to Graduate
http://www.newsleader.com/story/news/2017/08/31/students-may-soon-need-p…

Washington More Students Graduate After Elimination of Biology Exit Exam
http://www.heraldnet.com/news/biology-exam-reprieve-helps-at-least-66-sn…

International British Government Orders Inquiry Into Test-Cheating Scandal
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/education/2017/08/31/government-orders-invest…

University Most Connecticut 4-Year Colleges and Universities No Longer Require ACT/SAT Scores
http://www.courant.com/education/hc-news-university-hartford-test-option…

Worth Reading Standardized Testing Misses the Mark When It Comes to Cognitive Complexity
https://www.districtadministration.com/article/1017-gp

Worth Watching The Insanity of Testing Kindergartners
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IglhSNNk7Qk

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