Testing Resistance & Reform News: January 24 - 30, 2018

Alabama Parents Criticize System that Grades Schools Based on Single Test Score
http://whnt.com/2018/01/25/parent-thinks-state-grading-system-that-failed-three-huntsville-schools-needs-to-change/

Delaware State Law Bars Punishment for Opting Out of Tests
https://exceptionaldelaware.wordpress.com/2018/01/26/a-strong-reminder-for-delaware-schools-about-the-smarter-balanced-assessment-and-opt-out/

Illinois Test Scores Released Two Years Late
http://www.chicagotribune.com/suburbs/elgin-courier-news/news/ct-ecn-elgin-area-science-test-scores-st-0126recovered-fri-jan-19-134018-2018-20180119-story.html
Illinois Alternatives Sought for High School Equivalency Test
http://www.whig.com/20180130/state-looks-at-alternatives-to-high-school-equivalency-test#

Indiana Student Envisions World Without State Tests
http://www.kokomotribune.com/news/local_news/northwestern-student-envisions-world-without-istep/article_050cc7de-ffb4-11e7-b3a4-2f6349114ea5.html

Louisiana Charter School Administrators Fired After Systematic Test Irregularities
https://thelensnola.org/2018/01/23/four-administrators-at-singleton-fired-after-systemic-irregularities-on-standardized-tests/

Massachusetts Beyond the State Test: Access and Equity in Public Schools
http://www.ourbrooklineschools.org/

Mississippi Testing Company Breach Revealed Student Data
https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/politics/2018/01/19/mississippi-student-data-accessed-testing-vendor-breach/1050068001/

Missouri Districts to Study Better Ways to Measure Student Learning
http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/education/missouri-school-districts-to-study-a-better-way-to-measure/article_c4e963f1-a65f-514b-be3c-5e0d5b403ec6.html

New Hampshire Feds Approve State ESSA Plan Allowing Performance Assessments to Replace Some Tests
http://www.concordmonitor.com/Feds-approve-NH-s-ESSA-plan-15100611

New York Officials Will Seek Federal Waiver for Testing English Language Learners
https://chalkbeat.org/posts/ny/2018/01/22/new-york-officials-vow-to-keep-fighting-for-controversial-testing-rules-after-federal-agency-rejects-them/
New York Parents Angered by State's Failure to Apply for Innovative Assessment Grant
https://www.chalkbeat.org/posts/ny/2018/01/23/new-york-wont-apply-for-federal-program-that-would-have-allowed-for-innovative-state-tests/

South Dakota Sixth Graders Using Project-Based Assessments Rather Than Tests
https://www.mitchellrepublic.com/news/education/4393486-mitchell-sixth-grade-class-using-project-based-assessment-instead-tests

Vermont Critics Question Accuracy of Smarter Balance Test Results
https://vtdigger.org/investigations/making-grade-part-2/

Washington Too Much Emphasis on Testing
https://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/letters-to-the-editor/education-too-much-focus-on-testing/
Washington State Graduation Tests Hurts Students
http://www.union-bulletin.com/opinion/letters_to_editor/state-testing-for-graduation-fails-students/article_4e4d6b30-0534-11e8-9f04-577b5730fee5.html

International Putting PISA to the Test: High Childhood Poverty Explains Low U.S. Ranking
https://www.turnaroundusa.org/2015-pisa-analysis/

University Admissions Push Back Against Test-Maker Book Criticizing Test-Optional Policies
https://www.insidehighered.com/admissions/article/2018/01/29/new-book-criticizes-test-optional-movement

Worth Reading Sir Ken Robinson Says Creative Schools Blocked by Standardized Testing Fixation
https://www.educationdive.com/news/fetc-2018-ken-robinson-argues-2-key-points-in-support-of-creative-schools/515530/
Worth Reading The Value of Creative Writing in a Culture of Standardized Testing
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2018/01/28/why-you-are-wrong-if-you-think-creative-writing-is-a-frivolous-waste-of-time/

Bob Schaeffer, Public Education Director
FairTest: National Center for Fair & Open Testing
office-   (239) 395-6773   fax-  (239) 395-6779
mobile- (239) 699-0468
web-  http://www.fairtest.org