Testing Resistance & Reform News: March 19 - 25, 2014

Anyone who still believes that the resistance to testing misuse and overuse is confined to a few big cities and "liberal" activists, should click through this week's news clips. In fact, testing protests are spreading across "deep red" states" such as Alaska, Tennessee, Texas and Utah. And "conservative" commentators are speaking out against standardized exam overkill.

A Strong Right-Wing Voice Joins the Chorus: Revolt Against the Tyranny of Standardized Testing
http://washingtonexaminer.com/revolt-against-the-tyrants-of-standardized-testing/article/2545914?custom_click=rss

Countering Fears About Opting Out
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/claire-wapole/the-fear-of-opting-out-isat_b_4993818.html

New School Tests Don't Make the Grade
http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/3/25/new-school-testsdontmakethegrade.html 

Alaska Legislature Advances Bill Repealing Exit Exam, Awarding Retroactive Diplomas
http://peninsulaclarion.com/news/2014-03-20-0

Chicago Parents Irate About School Officials Questioning Children About Test Boycott
http://www.suntimes.com/news/26334435-418/parents-livid-over-cps-investigators-questioning-kids-over-isat-boycott.html

Opt-Out Movement Gains Momentum in Colorado
http://www.coloradoindependent.com/146615/opting-out

Testing Violations Continue at D.C. Schools: Michelle Rhee's Legacy
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/review-finds-four-serious-test-taking-violations-in-dc-schools/2014/03/19/8c6cdc84-af75-11e3-a49e-76adc9210f19_story.html

Delaware Teachers Push Back Against Test-Driven "Reform"
http://www.delawareonline.com/story/news/education/2014/03/18/teacher-union-members-voice-discontent/6586595/

Feds Investigate Bias in Florida's Test-Based Scholarships
http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/college/feds-investigate-floridas-bright-futures-scholarship-program/2171469

Former Teacher of the Year Sends "Dear John" Letter & Video to State of Florida
http://www.teachingquality.org/content/dear-john-letter-state-florida

Maryland Teacher: Time to Hold "Reformers" Accountable of Policy Failures
http://indypendent.org/2014/03/21/time-hold-education-reformers-accountable

Massachusetts State Ed. Official Admits Students Cannot Be Forced to Take Common Core Pilot Tests
http://www.metrowestdailynews.com/article/20140320/NEWS/140329703

High-Stakes Testing Leads to Anxiety in Mississippi's School Children
http://www.hattiesburgamerican.com/article/20140323/LIFESTYLE/303230011/High-stakes-testing-leads-anxiety-students

New Jersey Supers: Common Core Test Delay Would Help Students, Schools
http://www.nj.com/opinion/index.ssf/2014/03/delaying_new_standardized_testing_would_benefit_schools_students_opinion.html

New Mexico Parents Blast Standardized Exam Exam Overkill
http://www.taosnews.com/opinion/article_0730b95c-b04f-11e3-abce-001a4bcf887a.html

Number of New York Families Preparing to Opt Out Grows
http://www.ny1.com/content/news/205540/growing-number-of-parents-want-students-to-opt-out-of-high-stakes-state-tests 
Parents Explain: "Why We Are Opting Out"
http://www.antonnews.com/farmingdaleobserver/opinion/36644-letter-why-we-are-opting-out.html
Brooklyn Parents Organize to Roll Back Standardized Testing for Young Children
http://www.greenpointnews.com/news/6023/north-brooklyn-parents-oppose-standardized-testing-for-young-students

Pennsylvania Parents Opt Children Out of State Exam
http://www.philly.com/philly/education/20140324_Some_parents_having_their_children.html#mj2kOHL5sRq0A0VV.99
Philadelphia Inquirer Editorial: Take Emphasis Off State Tests
http://www.philly.com/philly/opinion/20140325_Inquirer_Editorial__Take_emphasis_off_state_tests.html

Tennessee Teachers File Second Suit Against "Value-Added" Evaluations
http://tn.chalkbeat.org/2014/03/21/tea-files-second-valued-added-lawsuit-this-week/
More Tennessee Parents Opt Children Out of Tests
http://www.tennessean.com/story/news/education/2014/03/24/nashville-parents-opt-kids-testing/6850305/

Texas May Make Deeper Cuts in Number of Required Tests
http://www.woai.com/articles/woai-local-news-sponsored-by-five-star-cleaners-119078/standardized-tests-required-in-school-may-12172509

Utah Educators Criticize Time Wasted on Testing, Not Teaching
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/57707764-90/students-teachers-testing-state.html.csp

Time to End the Feds Annual Testing Mandate
http://www.truth-out.org/opinion/item/22672-direct-the-department-of-education-and-congress-to-remove-annual-standardized-testing-mandates-of-nclb-and-rttt

Days of High-Stakes Testing Are Numbered, According to National Conservative Publication
http://www.nationalreview.com/agenda/373954/days-high-stakes-tests-are-numbered-and-thats-good-thing-reihan-salam

Teacher Quits Because Job is Now About Tests and Data, Not Children
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2014/03/23/kindergarten-teacher-my-job-is-now-about-tests-and-data-not-children-i-quit/

Does High-Stakes Testing Help Students Living in Poverty?
http://www.forpubliced.blogspot.com/2014/03/is-high-stakes-testing-best-way-to.html

Is High-Stakes Testing Increasing the Rate of "Attention Deficit Disorder" Diagnoses?
http://www.nbcnews.com/health/kids-health/could-school-testing-be-driving-adhd-n55661

What Students Think About Standardized Tests
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nicholas-ferroni/what-my-standardized-tests_b_4981580.html

"Listen" -- A New Documentary About Education From a Student's Perspective
ttp://vimeo.com/88905708

Finland's Only High-Stakes Standardized Test
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2014/03/24/the-brainy-questions-on-finlands-only-high-stakes-standardized-test/