Growing grassroots assessment reform pressure is forcing policy makers in many states to review — and in many cases roll back — high-stakes testing requirements. Top priorities include eliminating graduation exam mandates, de-linking teacher evaluations from student scores, and overhauling test-based school grading systems. Watch this space for announcements of more victories!
Florida Solving the Standardized Testing Conundrum
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dhfsw8PMW0&feature=youtu.be
Georgia State School Super Endorses Axing Several High-Stakes Tests
https://patch.com/georgia/canton-ga/ga-superintendent-supports-reducing-high-stakes-tests
Indiana Top Legislators Debate Testing Policy
https://wpta21.com/2020/02/04/political-radar-state-legislators-talk-education/
Massachusetts Exam Maker Says Boston Misused Test for Selective School Admission
https://www.bostonherald.com/2020/02/05/exam-maker-cuts-ties-with-boston-public-schools-over-equity-issues/
Michigan Evaluating Schools By Test Scores Is Inaccurate and Insufficient
https://www.michiganadvance.com/2020/02/10/test-scores-learning-rates-tell-different-student-achievement-stories-in-michigans-poorest-schools/
New Hampshire Report on State Performance Assessment Pilot Program
https://edreformnow.org/blog/innovative-assessment-pilot-new-hampshires-performance-assessment-competency-education/
New Jersey Commissioner Seeks Reduction of Test Weight in Teacher Evaluations
https://www.njspotlight.com/2020/02/repollet-looks-to-ease-back-on-key-gauge-of-teacher-accountability/
New York Educators Say Students Should Be Able to Earn High School Diplomas Without High-Stakes Tests
https://www.lohud.com/story/news/education/2020/02/04/ny-state-regents-exam-changes/4644241002/
New York Parents Call for Elimination of Regents “Exit Exams”
https://nycpublicschoolparents.blogspot.com/2020/02/faq-for-parents-and-teachers-on-regents.html
North Carolina Confusion Around Test-Based Teacher Bonuses
https://www.greensboro.com/news/education/oops-some-n-c-teachers-were-told-they-would-be/article_fba98be5-fc26-5a21-816f-b9cc47996fef.html
Ohio Criticism of “A-to-F” School Report Cards Grows
https://www.daytondailynews.com/news/local-education/ohio-school-report-cards-broken-system-easy-scapegoat/OpbSVZkZkUtbOkFK5Z7JMN/
Oklahoma There’s More to Reading Than a “Reading Test” Measures
https://www.tulsaworld.com/communities/skiatook/opinion/there-is-more-to-reading-than-the-reading-test/article_54d8a966-1de0-5ec0-83a7-f0f00c43ecad.html
Utah House Education Committee Calls for End of School Grading System
https://www.sltrib.com/news/politics/2020/02/06/education-committee/
Washington Play-Based Kindergarten Does Not Focus on Test Prep “Readiness”
https://hechingerreport.org/play-based-kindergarten-makes-a-comeback/
University Admissions Put Down Your Pencils: Many Colleges Join ACT/SAT-Optional Movement
https://www.northernpublicradio.org/post/put-down-your-pencils-many-il-schools-join-test-optional-trend
University Admissions Test Critics Will Fight U.C. Task Force Recommendation to Maintain Standardized Exam Requirement
https://www.record-bee.com/2020/02/05/critics-will-fight-on-despite-report-urging-uc-to-keep-tests-in-admissions/
Worth Reading Young Children Are Hurt As Playing Is Replaced by Test-Prep in Kindergarten
https://www.edsurge.com/news/2020-02-04-play-is-disappearing-from-kindergarten-it-s-hurting-kids#_=_
Worth Reading Does Studying Student Data Really Boost Test Scores?
https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2020/02/10/does-studying-student-data-really-raise-test.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