Testing Resistance & Reform News (October 28 - November 3, 2020)
School testing policy is among the issues whose future direction is being shaped as ballots are cast and counted. A growing number of office-seekers advocate for replacing standardized exam misuse and overuse with assessments that support learning and teaching. In other races, the differences among candidates may be more nuanced. But, across the board, election results will strongly influence whether the test-and-punish status quo is allowed to continue. At its core, the testing debate is political, not educational.
National Federal Standardized Testing Mandates Among Likely Consequences From Election Results
https://www.chalkbeat.org/2020/10/28/21538687/eight-big-consequences-2020-elections-could-have-for-schools
National COVID-19 Raises Stakes for Elections Across the Country
http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2020/10/covid-19_has_put_education_on_.html
National DeVos Tries to Make Baloney Sandwich From NAEP Scores
http://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2020/10/devos-new-naep-baloney-sandwich.html
Arkansas Superintendents Oppose Resuming Student Academic Testing in Spring 2021
https://www.jonesborosun.com/news/local/districts-weigh-in-on-standardized-tests/article_160c5adb-685f-53b3-a4c4-9039f38adc5c.html
Florida County School Superintendent Calls for Suspending Test-Based School Grades
https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/education/os-ne-seminole-school-grades-pandemic-20201029-dw5otrwzgbh2bihrc7vkhrpa3q-story.html
Massachusetts Local Candidates Call for No State Mandated Exams During Pandemic
https://www.wickedlocal.com/news/20201028/4th-norfolk-candidates-support-no-mcas-exams-during-pandemic
Michigan It's the Right Time to Stop Overdosing on Standardized Testing
https://nepc.colorado.edu/blog/its-right-time
South Carolina State Waives Requirement to Include Standardized Test Scores in Student Grades
https://www.postandcourier.com/columbia/news/sc-high-schoolers-wont-have-to-sweat-end-of-course-tests-as-much-this-school/article_9c922ef0-1933-11eb-8062-efde2eff6781.html
Tennessee Governor and Ed Commission Will Seek to Remove Consequences from Spring 2021 Tests
https://www.timesnews.net/news/education/schwinn-confident-public-school-systems-to-make-right-calls-on-pandemic-learning/article_ecbd7780-1880-11eb-af79-9b971699ab33.html
Texas A to F School Grading System Stigmatizes Low-Income Communities
https://www.dallasnews.com/news/watchdog/2020/10/29/a-through-f-grading-system-for-texas-public-schools-is-one-more-way-to-stigmatize-poor-neighborhoods/
Wyoming Test-Based Accountability Suspended for Current School Year
https://www.laramieboomerang.com/news/state-suspends-wy-topp-accountability/article_4872d8ef-e8ab-5190-b524-bf397008cbcc.html
University Admission Appeals Court Bars University of California From Considering ACT/SAT Scores
https://www.educationdive.com/news/u-of-california-cant-consider-sat-act-appeals-court-rules/588137/
University Admissions More Business Schools Going GMAT/GRE Optional This Year
https://poetsandquants.com/2020/11/02/more-business-schools-going-test-optional-this-year/
Worth Reading Proposal to Resume Standardized Testing During Pandemic is Ill-Timed, Unrealistic and Inappropriate
https://nepc.colorado.edu/thinktank/pandemic-assessment
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
1,665+ Accredited, 4-Year Colleges & Universities with ACT/SAT-Optional Testing Policies for Fall, 2021 Admissions