Testing Resistance & Reform News: January 24 - 30, 2018
Week after week, news stories demonstrate the many ways test-driven schooling is failing students, families, educators and taxpayers. It's no wonder, then, that the assessment reform movement continues to grow across the U.S.
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
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