Testing Resistance & Reform News: May 2 - 8, 2013

Across the nation, assessment reformers are ringing up victories and changing public opinion by pressuring policymakers, publishing great letters and opinion columns, and exposing test-driven corruption. Please help build this movement by providing FairTest with the resources needed to support grassroots activism -- http://www.fairtest.org/donate

Sec. Duncan Faces Strong Criticism of Test-Driven Policies
     http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/inside-school-research/2013/04/aera_duncan_faces_critics_on_s.html

Arne Duncan's Moment of Truth
     http://takingnote.learningmatters.tv/?p=6347

Cheating Scandals and Parent Rebellions: How High-Stakes Testing is Doomed
     http://www.slate.com/articles/news_and_politics/science/2013/05/cheating_scandals_and_parent_rebellions_high_stakes_school_testing_is_doomed.single.html

The Myth of Lagging U.S. Schools
     http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2013/05/03/were-number-umpteenth-the-myth-of-lagging-u-s-schools/

Why We Need a Moratorium on High-Stakes Common Core Testing
     http://blog.ourfuture.org/20130508/why-we-need-a-moratorium-on-the-high-stakes-of-common-core-testing

Online Assessment Disruptions Raise Major Questions About Common Core Computerized Tests
     http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2013/05/03/30testing.h32.html

ACT Plans Computer-Based College Admissions Test
     http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/07/education/act-to-move-toward-computer-based-testing.html?_r=0

• see FairTest's fact sheet on Common Core Assessments http://www.fairtest.org/common-core-assessments-more-tests-not-much-better
• and news release on Computerized Testing SNAFUS http://www.fairtest.org/fairtest-press-release-widespread-computer-testing

Texas Legislators Agree to Cutback in Standardized Testing Requirements by Two-Thirds
      http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_23186183/senate-schools-bill-cuts-testing?source=most_emailed

New York Common Core Test Sets Students Up for Failure
      http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/controversial-state-reading-exam-revealed-article-1.1333768#ixzz2SE9QWImo

Standardized Testing: A Dangerous System  -- a model letter to the editor
      http://www.timesunion.com/opinion/article/Letter-Standardized-testing-a-dangerous-system-4489326.php

Standardized Testing is an Ineffective, Immoral Policy
      http://www.lohud.com/article/20130414/OPINION/304140098/Community-view-Standardized-testing-ineffective-immoral-policy?gcheck=1

Historic Memo Stirs Allegations of DC School Cheating Under Michelle Rhee
       http://www.npr.org/2013/05/06/181678191/long-lost-memo-stirs-allegation-of-cheating-in-d-c-schools

The Immorality of Test Secrecy
      http://grantwiggins.wordpress.com/2013/05/04/20-years-later-the-immorality-of-test-security-revisited/

Opt Out Movement Grows
      http://www.rockawave.com/news/2013-05-03/Columnists/School_Scope.html

Rifts Deepen Over Direction of U.S. Education Policy
      http://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2013/05/08/30debate_ep.h32.html?tkn=NYTFPj8zDM86KNB5ODgUg7siTXsfz3h0zzTy&cmp=ENL-EU-NEWS1

Fourth Grader Told to Take Standardized Exam From Hospital Bed -- another example of test-and-punish insanity
      http://www.cbs6albany.com/news/features/top-story/stories/the-real-deal-4th-grader-asked-take-nys-test-hospital-bed-7933.shtml