Testing Resistance & Reform News: September 30 - October 6, 2015

Remember that back issues of these weekly news summaries are archived online at: http://fairtest.org/news/other

National Arne Duncan's Shameful Legacy
https://janresseger.wordpress.com/2015/10/05/arne-duncans-misguided-policies/
National Appointment of John King is "Deja Vu All Over Again"
http://dianeravitch.net/2015/10/05/john-thompson-how-kings-appointment-could-hurts-democrats-in-2016/

California Teachers Think Critical Thinking Much More Important Than Test Scores
http://laschoolreport.com/ca-teachers-view-critical-thinking-most-important-for-college-readiness/

Colorado Test-Driven Public Schools Deprive Us of Creativity
http://cuindependent.com/2015/09/29/public-schools-deprive-us-of-creativity/

Connecticut Right Policy to Prioritize Learning Over Testing
http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Malloy-right-to-push-learning-over-testing-6538266.php
Connecticut Heed Lessons From Teenagers
http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/news/article/Wendy-Lecker-Heeding-the-lessons-of-teenagers-6545659.php

Florida Time to Throw Out Bush-Era Test-and-Punish Reforms 
http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/k12/romano-time-to-throw-out-bush-era-education-reforms/2248261
Florida Time to Get Teachers and Legislators on the Same Page
http://staugustine.com/opinions/2015-09-28/letter-lets-get-teachers-and-tallahassee-same-page#.Vgsefb9LUZx
Florida Superintendents Right to Distrust Test Scores
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/opinion/editorials/fl-editorial-superintendents-fsa-20150929-story.html

Idaho Lawsuit Challenges Constitutionality of Smarter Balanced Test
http://www.idahoednews.org/news/federal-lawsuit-targets-idaho-core-standards-sbac-exam/#.VgruML9LUZx
Idaho Super Wants to End Ninth Grade Testing Requirement
http://www.idahostatesman.com/2015/09/29/4011545/ybarra-will-seek-to-stop-required.html

Illinois 70% of School Grades Will Not Be Based on Test Scores
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-school-ratings-met-20151004-story.html

Indiana Lawmakers Respond to Mounting Concerns Over Standardized Testing
http://www.theindychannel.com/news/local-news/lawmakers-consider-mounting-concerns-over-istep-and-standardized-testing

Maine Dozen Colleges Across the State Downplay College Admissions Tests
https://bangordailynews.com/2015/09/29/news/state/12-maine-colleges-downplay-test-scores-for-admission/

Massachusetts Something Is Rotten With State Testing
http://learninglab.wbur.org/2015/10/02/guest-commentary-something-is-rotten-in-the-state-of-massachusetts/

New Jersey Students, Parents, Teachers, Schools Still Waiting for PARCC Test-Score Reports
http://www.nj.com/education/2015/10/when_will_parcc_scores_come_out_in_nj.html

New York Opt Out Leaders Protest Phony Cuomo Commission to Review Common Core and Tests
http://dianeravitch.net/2015/09/29/ny-opt-out-leaders-protest-phony-cuomo-commission/

Ohio Test Results Are Latest Threat to Unravel Common Core
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/confusing-ohio-test-results-are-latest-effort-to-unravel-common-cores-promise/2015/10/03/59bb1306-6157-11e5-9757-e49273f05f65_story.html 
Ohio Jonathan Kozol Calls for Teaching Critical Thinking Instead of "Acquiescent" Test-Taking
http://www.cleveland.com/metro/index.ssf/2015/09/bestselling_author_jonathan_ko.html

Pennsylvania Teachers Union Head Calls for Moratorium on Use of Scores From New Test
http://fox43.com/2015/09/29/teachers-union-president-calls-for-moratorium-on-new-pssa-test/
Pennsylvania Emphasis on Standardized Testing Has Gone Too Far
http://www.pottsmerc.com/opinion/20151005/pssas-emphasis-on-standardized-testing-has-gone-too-far
Pennsylvania "Value-Added" Data is Valueless
http://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2015/10/pa-value-less-data.html?spref=tw

Wyoming State Task Force on Assessments Recommends End of 11th Grade ACT Testing Requirement
http://k2radio.com/wyoming-panel-recommends-no-act-in-11th-grade/

ACT/SAT Trinity College Joins Test-Optional Admissions Movement
http://www.trincoll.edu/Admissions/Pages/TestOptional.aspx
ACT/SAT Exam Cancellation Blamed on Testing Company
http://www.sfgate.com/education/article/SAT-exam-cancellation-in-S-F-blamed-on-testing-6552305.php

Testing Industry: Company Executives Get Rich at the Expense of Students, Teachers and Taxpayers
https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/answer-sheet/wp/2015/09/30/how-much-do-big-education-nonprofits-pay-their-bosses-quite-a-bit-it-turns-out/

New Book by Vicki Abeles: Beyond Measure: Rescuing an Overscheduled, Overtested, Underestimated Generation
http://beyondmeasurefilm.com/beyond-measure-book/