Author: FairTest

Praising FairTest as “an incredibly vibrant and important organization that provides an essential service” — and specifically citing these weekly updates — former PBS education correspondent John Merrow postsFairTest Is Not a Footnoteand urges readers to provide more financial support around our upcoming “Heroes in Education” event. https://themerrowreport.com/2017/09/13/fairtest-is-not-a-footnote/This week’s clips include stories from more than […]

Despite severe weather across the southern U.S., campaigns against standardized exam overkill and for better methods of assessment continue to accelerate. FairTest hopes all our allies in Texas, Florida and other states hit hard by hurricanes Harvey and Irma are safe and will soon be able to return to their effective assessment reform activism. ArizonaEducators […]

for further information: Bob Schaeffer (239) 395-6773 cell (239) 699-0468 Embargoed until 3:00am EDT, Thursday, Sept. 7, 2017 — for use with annual ACT scores FEMALES’ ACT SCORES TOP MALES’ FOR FIRST TIME;NUMBER OF STUDENTS TAKING ACT DECLINES AS MANY MORE COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES DROP ADMISSIONS EXAMS; 980+ SCHOOLS ARE NOW TEST-OPTIONAL Young women in […]

As school doors open after the Labor Day holiday, challenges to standardized testing misuse and overuse continue to accelerate across the U.S. — make sure your assessment reform stories and resources are included in these weekly roundups by sending links to bobschaeffer@fairtest.org National Senator Will Introduce Bill to Reduce Number of Federally Required Testshttp://missoulian.com/news/local/tester-again-seeks-to-reduce-the-number… Alabama […]

You can tell that a new school year is beginning across the U.S. by the surge in testing-related coverage — this week’s clips include news from 20 states as well as national overviews. FairTest is especially pleased that so many stories and columns include strong criticisms of standardized exam misuse and overuse, reflecting a growing […]

Answer Sheet Beyond test scores: The right way to assess students and schools [Click Here for Link to Original WAPO story] By Valerie Strauss October 5, 2016 (iStock) For years students, schools, teachers, principals and even states have been “graded” by student standardized test scores under the false premise that the scores alone are legitimate […]

August 21st, 2017 Chandler Smith Multiple-choice tests are an unfair and inaccurate way to test how much students have learned. Students sometimes spend hours preparing for a test, placing emphasis on the wrong material, only to realize once the test is in front of them that they studied for all the wrong things. This can […]

by Susan Donaldson James July 25, 2017 Clara Cox was always good test-taker, and when she applied to college, she scored high on the SAT. “I grew up in the New York state system, so I’ve done standardized testing since the time I could walk,” said Cox, 26, who graduated from the University of Vermont […]

Hundreds of thousands of parents, students, educators and community leaders across the U.S. play important roles in the growing assessment reform movement. This fall, FairTest will celebrate two national leaders in the struggle against high-stakes testing and for educational justice: Schott Foundation President John H. Jackson and Mass. Teachers Association President Barbara Madeloni. You can […]

A broad range of voices — from parents and teachers to scholars and researchers to legislators and governors — continue to speak out against testing overuse and misuse. As the assessment reform movement grows, it has an ever-increasing impact on public policy, particularly at the district and state level. Arkansas State to End “Gotcha” School […]