Testing Resistance & Reform News: March 4 – 10, 2020

With the spring 2020 public school testing season on the horizon, more parents, educators, and community organizers are considering opting out from standardized exams as a tactic to advance assessment reform. Be sure to check out FairTest’s resources on this topic:
https://www.fairtest.org/get-involved/opting-out

National Proposals to Broaden, Strengthen Fed’s Innovative Assessment Grants Program
https://marketbrief.edweek.org/marketplace-k-12/innovative-assessment-pilots-support-equity-strive-broad-impact-groups-say/

Connecticut Increased Testing Mandates Dis-empower Teachers and Students
https://www.nepr.net/post/increased-mandated-testing-hartford-disempowers-teachers-and-students

Florida Teachers, Parents Protest New State Testing Rules
https://www.tampabay.com/news/gradebook/2020/03/05/teachers-parents-protest-new-florida-testing-rules/

Georgia State Senate Votes Unanimously to Drop Five Standardized Exams
https://wgxa.tv/news/local/georgia-lawmakers-drop-five-standardized-tests-from-public-schools

Indiana Teachers Try to Keep Up as State Changes Testing Six Times in Decade
https://indianapublicmedia.org/news/changing-evaluation-law-spurs-questions-on-testing,-teacher-accountability.php
Indiana Legislature Votes to End (Mis-)Use of Student Test Scores in Teacher Evaluations
http://www.therepublic.com/2020/03/03/in-xgr-indiana-legislature-education-2/

Louisiana Almost Everything Done in the Name of “Education Reform” Has Backfired
http://louisianaeducator.blogspot.com/2020/03/almost-everything-recently-done-in-name.html

Massachusetts Less Testing, More Learning Campaign Blog
https://lesstestingmorelearning.tumblr.com/

Minnesota Growing Number of Opt Outs May Force Testing Overhaul
https://www.wahpetondailynews.com/news/changes-may-come-to-standardized-testing/article_ca76634a-5f2f-11ea-a6c1-cbe590226ec8.html

Mississippi Legislation Relaxes Teacher Licensing Testing Requirements
https://www.wtok.com/content/news/Teacher-licensure-bill-clears-Mississippi-Senate-568530741.html

New York Should Your Child Opt-Out of State Tests
http://www.longislandadvance.net/stories/should-your-child-take-the-nys-assessment-tests,85338

Utah No One Likes State’s High-Stakes Civics Test, But Politics Keep It in Effect
https://kutv.com/news/beyond-the-books/no-one-likes-utahs-high-school-civics-test-but-despite-efforts-it-lives-on

Virginia Schools Trying Out Locally Designed Writing Assessment
https://www.nbc29.com/2020/03/03/albemarle-co-schools-trying-new-writing-assessment-replacing-traditional-writing-sol/

University Admissions Test-Optional Policy Benefits Both Applicants and Higher Education
https://news.iu.edu/stories/2020/03/iub/inside/10-from-the-desk-vice-provost-for-enrollment-management-test-optional-admissions.html

Worth Reading Testing Company Offers More Self-Promotional Baloney
https://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2020/03/nwea-offers-more-testing-baloney.html

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

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