Author: FairTest

The back-to-school agenda for the growing, national assessment reform movement is straight-forward: cut the volume of standardized testing; eliminate high-stakes exam misuses; encourage alternative accountability systems. Campaigns are already having an impact in many states. NationalTake Advantage of Opportunities to Testify at State Hearings on ESSA Planshttps://janresseger.wordpress.com/2016/08/19/please-testify-in-state-hearings-on-essa-plans-point-out-the-road-away-from-test-and-punish/ AlabamaState Holds Public Meetings for Input on ESSA […]

The pace of assessment reform news quickens as the 2016-2017 academic year begins to unfold across the U.S. In addition to revitalizing many ongoing controversies, a new issue in many jurisdictions is how much testing flexibility will be allowed under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act. Grassroots activists are actively campaigning to reduce the number […]

FairTest hopes that these news summaries, which now go to several thousand activists, educators and policymakers each week, provide useful material for your assessment reform work. Please remember that you can support FairTest projects, including “Testing Resistance & Reform News” by making a contribution at:https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/fairtest— thank you! NationalNew, More Flexible Era of Educational Accountability Under […]

for further information: Dr. Monty Neill (617) 477-9792 Bob Schaeffer (239) 395-6773 for immediate release, Friday, August 5, 2016 OBAMA ADMIN. ENHANCED ASSESSMENT GRANTS CALLED “FAR TOO LITTLE AND WAY TOO LATE” FOR TESTING REFORMERS; MANY STATES ALREADY CUTTING EXAMS, ENDING HIGH-STAKES The National Center for Fair & Open Testing (FairTest), the country’s leading assessment […]

Believe it or not, summer vacation is already over for students in several states. For example, the public school year began across Oklahoma and in Indianapolis on August 1. Many Florida districts re-open next week. With the start of classes, controversies over testing policies accelerate. At the same time, scores from last year’s exams and […]

The grassroots assessment reform movement has refused to take a “summer break.” Across the country, parents, educators and community activists are pressing policymakers to take advantage of the increased testing flexibility allowed under the new federal education law. Already, many states have responded by cutting back standardized exam requirements. Where change is not taking place […]

Pressure is growing on the U.S. Department of Education to withdraw punitive draft regulations for implementing the Every Student Succeeds Act. At the same time, many states and districts are pursuing the assessment flexibility encouraged by the new federal law. National Parents Across America Calls for Withdrawal of Draft Fed Regs. That Push Failed NCLB […]

Grassroots pressure is leading many states and districts to re-evaluate their standardized testing requirements and start developing alternative, performance-based assessments, often seeking to use new flexibility under the recently adopted federal education law. Keep the heat on! NationalRules Proposed for ESSA’s Innovative Assessment Pilot Programhttp://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2016/07/essa_innovative_assessment_regulations.html ArkansasElementary Schools Should Be About More than Test Scoreshttp://swtimes.com/columns-blogs/jessica-hayes/education-today-elementary-school-should-be-more-test-scores CaliforniaDeciphering […]

Though school is out for the summer and the long, holiday weekend slowed coverage, there’s still plenty of assessment reform news. Please add your voice at the Save Our Schools rally, march and conference in Washington DC at the end of this week http://saveourschoolsmarch.org/ NationalLawmakers Press Ed. Secretary Over Every Student Succeeds Act Draft Regulationshttp://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/campaign-k-12/2016/06/senate_essa_oversight_hearing_school_ratings_timeline.htmlNational […]

A number of states are already moving to take advantage of the flexibility to overhaul assessments included in the new, federal Every Student Succeeds Act. But proposed U.S. Department of Education regulations could inhibit reforms that help improve learning and learning. If you have not weighed in already, now is the time to submit a […]