Author: FairTest

Yet another state — Indiana — dropped its graduation testing requirement this week. A decade ago, nearly two dozen jurisdictions required students to pass a high school exit exam. Now the number is just twelve. In addition, several states — — have retroactively awarded diplomas to young adults who completed their coursework but failed a […]

More “fallout from the testing explosion” as this week’s stories document both the damage from high-stakes standardized overkill and the growing grassroots movement pushing for genuine assessment reform Alabama State Board Considers How to Replace ACT Aspire Testhttps://www.alexcityoutlook.com/2018/07/09/state-school-board-narrowing-… Arizona If High-Stakes Tests Don’t Make Sense, Neither Will the Resultshttps://www.tucsonweekly.com/TheRange/archives/2018/07/03/if-the-high-st…Arizona What Will We Do Without High-Stakes […]

Happy Fourth of July! Be sure to celebrate the growing movement for independence from standardized testing misuse and overuse. Arizona Districts Can Drop State Test, Choose Other Standardized Examhttps://tucson.com/news/local/tusd-ditching-azmerit-test-for-high-school… Florida Inconsistent Treatment of End-of-Course Test Scoreshttp://www.tampabay.com/blogs/gradebook/2018/06/26/officials-seek-consis…Florida “Accountabaloney” as State Rates Schools with “B” Grades on “Low-Performing” Listhttp://accountabaloney.com/index.php/2017/07/10/floridas-low-performing-… Illinois District Protests False Test Data on School […]

What’s wrong with current high-stakes testing policies? Check out this week’s clips to see some of the damage to educational quality and equity from standardized exam overuse and misuse. There’s also very good news with the University of Chicago, one of the nation’s most selective schools, adopting a test-optional admissions policy. National Why Test Blindly? […]

What a week! The University of Chicago drops ACT/SAT admissions testing requirements; Seattle teachers endorse a moratorium on standardized exams; and many state continue to rollback testing overkill. Momentum for meaningful assessment reform is clearly building. California Hot Classrooms From Climate Change Could Set Schools Up to Failhttps://earther.com/climate-change-could-set-kids-up-to-fail-1826637932 Illinois Chicago Teachers Negotiate Right to Block […]

With the academic year wrapping up across the U.S., education news coverage is turning to the many negative impacts of excessive testing requirements on students, teachers, schools and communities. This fall’s state and local elections can help define a new framework for assessment policy making NationalThe Bottom Line on Opting Out of High-Stakes Testshttps://www.washingtonpost.com/news/answer-sheet/wp/2018/06/08/the-bottom-line-on-opting-out-of-high-stakes-standardized-tests/ FloridaTime […]

The human impact from high-stakes standardized exams has often been ignored by mainstream media. Not this week! Check out the stories highlighting the real harm done to children, their families and educators by testing overkill. NationalStates Take Small Steps Toward Assessment Reform Under ESSAhttp://nepc.colorado.edu/publication/state-assessment ColoradoTest-Driven Education “Reform” Becomes Major Election Issuehttps://www.chalkbeat.org/posts/co/2018/05/31/how-education-reform-became-a-wedge-issue-among-colorado-democrats-this-election-year/ FloridaStudent Says High-Stakes Tests […]

The growing impact of the assessment reform movement is clear in this week’s clips, many of which reflect a critical perspective on test overuse and misuse. This fall’s elections will play a major role in determining whether new public officials will roll back standardized exam overkill or if the same old officials will continue discredited […]

The message from parents, students, educators and community leaders could not be clearer: the path to educational progress requires reducing testing and eliminating high stakes. Policy-makers in many jurisdictions are starting to listen and implement real assessment reforms. Keep the pressure on! Florida Kindergarten “Readiness” Testing Is Part of War on Youngest Childrenhttp://curmudgucation.blogspot.com/2018/05/fl-continuing-war-on-littles….Florida Increase in […]

The rich array of stories in this week’s news clips — online, in print, via video and audio — reported from a third of U.S. states and around the world demonstrate the breadth, depth and impact of the assessment reform movement. California Student Academic Performance Improved After State Backed Away From “Test-and-Punish”https://edsource.org/2018/a-closer-look-at-californias-impressive-educat… Colorado Feds Finally […]