Testing Resistance & Reform News: March 1 - 7, 2017

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