Assessment Reform News: August 31-September 6, 2022

With Labor Day in the rear-view mirror, most U.S. public schools are back in session.  Rather than trying to meet the full range of students’ COVID-era academic, social and psychological needs, many are focused on administering new rounds of standardized exams and analyzing scores.  That makes this a perfect time for assessment reformers to remind education policy makers, taxpayers and journalists that testing is not teaching (and it’s not nurturing for children whose lives have been disrupted either).

National Annual NAEP Score Panic Intensifies in Wake of Pandemic
https://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2022/09/annual-naep-panic-covid-edition.html

Florida F.A.S.T. Exam System Means More Frequent Student Testing
https://grumpyoldteacher.com/

Georgia 
State Will Pilot New Teacher Evaluation System
https://www.northwestgeorgianews.com/catoosa_walker_news/news/state-department-of-education-to-pilot-new-teacher-evaluation-system/article_bbc1c720-29f0-11ed-a95b-cb2182f3307a.html

Maine 
Educators Push Back Against Flawed Ratings by Commercial Groups Such as Great Schools
https://www.sunjournal.com/2022/09/04/the-system-is-really-flawed-lewiston-and-auburn-officials-push-back-on-poor-school-ratings/

Massachusetts 
Will Raising Exit Exam Score Bar Increase Teaching to the Test?
https://www.cambridgeday.com/2022/09/05/whether-raising-standards-or-teaching-to-the-test-mcas-graduation-requirements-are-now-higher/

North Carolina 
Growing Criticism of School “Accountability” Model
https://www.ednc.org/school-accountability-model-low-performing-performa/
North Carolina Legislature’s Test-Based “Merit Pay” Scheme Is Failing Public School Teachers
https://www.technicianonline.com/opinion/opinion-north-carolina-s-legislature-is-failing-its-educators/article_8a1076b4-28d2-11ed-9a17-efda69197523.html

Oregon 
State Ed Dept Recommends End to Smarter Balanced Graduation Test Requirement
https://oregoncapitalchronicle.com/2022/09/02/state-education-department-recommends-big-changes-to-graduation-requirements/

Pennsylvania 
Educators Say Pandemic Drop in Test Scores Is Not Surprising
https://www.dailyitem.com/news/school-leaders-data-showing-drop-in-test-scores-not-surprising/article_3fecbc3c-2a26-11ed-bff0-0bac0e6fd1d7.html

South Carolina
 Paying Teachers for Higher Student Test Scores Is Not a Solution
https://www.postandcourier.com/moultrie-news/opinion/teacher-to-parent-teacher-bonuses-for-high-test-scores-is-not-a-solution/article_943404d0-2305-11ed-b0e5-5b981d93da8a.html

Vermont PRAXIS Exam Requirement Waived for New Teachers
https://mountaintimes.info/a-standardized-test-is-keeping-potential-teachers-out-of-the-workforce-vermont-to-make-it-optional/

University Admissions How Louisiana’s Public Universities Assess Applicants without an ACT/SAT Requirement
https://www.highereddive.com/news/heres-how-louisiana-now-admits-students-into-public-colleges-without-the-s/630998/University Admissions Advanced Placement English Comp Exam Is Not a Good Substitute for College Writing Course
https://slate.com/human-interest/2022/08/advice-to-first-year-college-students-on-freshman-comp.html

Bob Schaeffer, Public Education DirectorFairTest: National Center for Fair & Open Testing

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