Testing Resistance & Reform News: March 1 - 7, 2017
From California to Massachusetts and Florida to Minnesota, the assessment reform movement is gaining steam. Many of this week's stories highlight the ways grassroots mobilizing by parents, educators and community activists is pressuring policymakers to reduce testing volume and eliminate high-stakes standardized exams. Check out FairTest's organizing guide for more helpful resources:
http://fairtest.org/get_involved/tools
National The Purported Failure of America's Public Schools -- and How to Really Help Them Improve
http://www.niusileadscape.org/bl/the-purported-failure-of-americas-schools-and-ways-to-make-them-better-by-david-c-berliner/
Multiple States Why Make Students Sign a Test Security Pledge?
http://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2017/03/making-students-pledge-test-security.html
California Online Accountability Dashboard Designed to Help Parents Evaluate Schools
http://www.govtech.com/education/California-to-Launch-New-Online-School-Evaluation-System.html
Colorado Legislature Moves to Repeal English Language Testing Requirement for English Learners
https://www.denverite.com/lawmakers-take-first-step-ease-testing-burden-young-english-language-learners-30559/
Connecticut The Harsh Reality of Standardized Tests
https://thesouthernnews.org/2017/02/28/the-harsh-reality-of-standardized-tests/
District of Columbia PAC Tries to Promote Test-Base School Evaluation with Deceptive Phone Calls
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/news/loose-lips/article/20853674/an-education-pac-is-phonebanking-dc-residents-to-promote-controversial-policy
Florida Testing Reform Bills Teed Up in Legislature
http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=549444
Florida Parents Opt-Out as Testing Season Begins
http://www.wtxl.com/news/as-florida-standards-testing-starts-some-leon-county-parents-opt/article_916138b8-fe08-11e6-ae64-9f016e8a4b89.html
Florida Bill to Cutback Testing Gains Bipartisan Support
http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/gradebook/bill-to-cut-back-florida-testing-gains-bipartisan-support/2315499
Georgia Bill That May Reduce School Testing Passes State Senate
http://www.ajc.com/news/state--regional-education/school-test-legislation-passes-georgia-senate/BBvqBjvhgLGIK7Z2D96LUO/
Georgia Test Opt-Out Bill Passes State House
http://www.ajc.com/news/state--regional-education/test-opt-out-bill-passed-georgia-house/FTN3yj7Mr17KI1f0PLJUtN/
Illinois Opt Out of Upcoming Tests to Disrupt "Pay for Success" Scheme
https://wrenchinthegears.com/2017/03/04/what-you-should-know-about-pay-for-success-as-testing-season-approaches/
Illinois Science Test Grading Begins a Year After It Was Administered
http://www.tbfurman.us/2017/03/the-ungraded-test-in-illinois.html
Indiana Poorly Focused ISTEP-Replacement Exam Would Be No Better
http://www.journalgazette.net/opinion/Testing-testing-18056222
Louisiana How to Opt Out
http://educatelouisiana.org/2017/03/02/to-opt-out-or-not/
Maryland House Unanimously Votes for Bill Limiting Testing
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/maryland/politics/bs-md-less-testing-20170228-story.html
Massachusetts Mom Spearheads Campaign to Change Grad Test Rule for Students with Disabilities
http://www.masslive.com/politics/index.ssf/2017/03/berkshire_mom_spearheads_campa.html
Massachusetts School Board Debates Future of High-Stakes Testing
http://homenewshere.com/daily_times_chronicle/news/woburn/article_1aa6a84a-ff64-11e6-a51c-9be14a167c8e.html
Michigan Parent Network Calls for Testing Opt Outs to Protest School Closures
https://michronicleonline.com/2017/03/03/detroit-parent-network-announces-m-step-opt-out-campaign/
Minnesota Unclear Value From Time Spent on Testing
http://www.startribune.com/audit-lots-of-time-spent-on-testing-but-payoff-unclear/415496934/
Nebraska State Seeks Innovation Assessments in New Program
http://www.omaha.com/news/education/nebraska-reviews-bids-from-companies-seeking-to-develop-future-student/article_ed0415df-64de-534e-940a-a2e703d5dd3d.html
New York Opt-Out Movement Remains Strong Across State
http://www.democratandchronicle.com/story/news/politics/albany/2017/03/02/opt-out-movement-new-york/98608956/
New York Teacher Produces Documentary on Common Core and Testing
http://mountvernon.dailyvoice.com/schools/mount-vernon-native-teacher-produces-documentary-on-common-core-testing/701170/
New York High Cost Test-Prep Rally
http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/manhattan/success-academy-eva-moskowitz-charters-radio-city-pep-rally-article-1.2987626?cid=bitly
Ohio Test Testing Plan Draws Ire at Public Forum
http://www.toledoblade.com/Education/2017/03/07/State-of-Ohio-testing-plan-draws-ire-at-forum.html
Ohio Superintendents Fight Against Testing Overkill
http://2presspapers.northcoastnow.com/2017/03/local-superintendents-fight-against-state-testing/
South Carolina Schools Give Tests on 141 of 180 Class Days
http://www.chronicle-independent.com/section/45/article/46809/
South Carolina Too Much Testing Going On
http://www.chronicle-independent.com/section/49/article/46788/
South Carolina Changes May Be on Tap for State Testing
http://www.wistv.com/story/34661622/changes-to-standardized-testing-could-happen-in-sc-schools
Texas Teaching Over Testing Act Will Reduce Number of Standardized Exams and Consequences
https://smcorridornews.com/editorial-teaching-over-testing-act-aims-to-reduce-standardized-testing/
Texas Poll Shows Public Support for Cutting School Testing as Best Way to Improve Education
https://www.texastribune.org/2017/02/22/uttt-poll-education-pretty-good-texans-have-some-suggestions/
Utah School Grading Criteria May Change
http://kuer.org/post/way-utah-schools-are-graded-might-be-changing
Virginia Parent Alliance to Examine Standardized Testing
http://www.loudountribune.com/standardized-testing-loudoun-leap/
Wisconsin Still Too Much Testing
https://bayviewcompass.com/hall-monitor-still-too-much-testing/
Wisconsin to Show Documentary: "Standardized Lies . . . How Testing is Ruining Education"
http://journaltimes.com/news/local/rea-to-show-documentary-on-standardized-testing/article_ecf5b11b-618c-5825-a41a-94cbefc23b4e.html
University Admission Study Shows High School Grades Predict College Performance Better Than ACT, SAT or Accuplacer
https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/projects/project.asp?projectID=4546
Worth Reading How Do States Integrate Performance Assessments?
https://edpolicy.stanford.edu/publications/pubs/1480
Worth Reading Do Licensure Exams Help Districts Choose Good Principals?
https://journalistsresource.org/studies/society/education/school-principals-licensure-exam-slla-research
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
More than 1050 four-year colleges and universities do not use the SAT or ACT to admit substantial numbers of bachelor-degree applicants.